Well. Second attempt. First response just flew off the screen into oblivion.
Assuredly rejoice you do not have grasshoppers. They devour (when numbering so many) anything green that does not have a rough leaf, and are just as avid at eating buds and flowers, too. The ground cover (pre-me) in front of the house down this steep creekside is nothing but stems. Wisteria, stems. Fruit trees, no leaves whatsoever. Even many of the trees have no leaves higher up. No grasshoppers in New Zealand should be a gardener's cause celebre. My garden was going beautifully, so very much needed after last year's severe drought. I was enraptured. Then the wheat field that forms an "L" around us was harvested, and immediately we were inundated with them. You did not go out of the house talking for you could get one in your mouth. Yes, some have made it into the house, but the kitties, especially Samwise and Jace, usually gleefully polish those off. The barn kittens (now a year and half old, hmmm) were all over the few we had before the harvest, but they quickly became bored when anything that moved caused 'hoppers to jump and fly all around them. They devoured my seedlings in a thrice. My roses. I had ordered a bare root hybrid tea as my first rose of the Honorary Moosey Corner. Planted it and it was coming along beautifully, but it could not survive without leaves and there is nothing you can do to kill an adult grasshopper, except stomping - have stomped all summer. They killed it and another thriving cutie, "The Fairy."
So. My most favorite rose nursery (on line) had a wonderful sale. I couldn't order rose one. I can't buy any perennials at the fall sales. So much for planting up seeds for next spring when the time comes. The last time we had a grasshopper invasion was in the '90's, it lasted for six or seven years and wasn't as grim as this one, even tho it made the national news. The only way "to get" them is Nola bait when they are small. But what do I do about the neighboring field? They are prepping it to plant wheat again this winter. It is usually so wonderful to have this bright, vibrant green in view. But my heart is dead before arrival of the coming spring. Of the twenty-seven roses I had, I now have seven, and Tamora is down to one surviving length of branch. That's twenty roses lost since 2010 (harsh winter for here), 2011 the epitome of drouth and Lord knows I carried water, water, water, 2012 grasshoppers. Have to stop now. It really has gotten to me. I haven't even been able to look at your, Kerole's or Jack's spring pictures.
b.
p.s. Oh yes, they have killed my daylillies, especially am missing the new ones I planted last fall. As far as I can tell, the amaryllis is dead, too. Quit weeding at all, in case there might be survivors. But if you are a blub and can not grow leaves to sustain yourself. . . .