A Buggy Season Ahead

I am a realist (at times) and a careful observer. A mild winter has set us up for a pretty heavy pest presence this year; I'm already noticing larger populations of aphids and thrips than I typically would this early in the season. 

I try to avoid spraying, or even using organic treatments, unless I absolutely have to. They're already here, so I'm attempting to lure them away from some of my more important flowers and veggies. Enter the trap crop.

Nasturiums tend to be my trap of choice. While the leaves and flowers of this plant are edible, almost peppery in flavor, I find them to be pretty disgusting. However, aphids find them absolutely delicious and ladybugs find aphids delicious. They aren't being planted to look pretty; they're being planted to be sacrificed. Once they show signs of heavy infestation, they'll be pruned or removed completely, and any beneficial insects will be relocated.

So unfortunately, my prediction for the season is a buggy one, and not in a good way.