Saturday 4 September 2010

Empire of the Ants

There I was doing some evening gardening by the light of the silvery moon – snipping here, pruning there watering everywhere - when I came across this and SCREAMED.

Oh ok I went “EW!!” and ran inside the house.


This - bootilycious bloggie friends - is one of my mini rose bushes and the whole plant has been converted into a deluxe apartment for ants.

On closer inspection, I decide to leave the plant for them.

Well they’re quiet, neat, keep themselves to themselves and they’re no trouble at all. Besides, the plant looks ok doesn’t it?!?!

Charlie says: Hmmm. I hope you’re charging rent per ant.


On another amazing note: the lovely KarenG is hosting a BBQ blogging party all weekend so feel free to pop over with a veggie sausage or three!

Hello to those who came over from the BBQ! Me and Charlie are so happy to meet you!

Have a whing-a-ding-ding weekend everyone!

38 comments:

Jemi Fraser said...

I popped over from Karen's - nice to meet you!

Charlie is a cutie :)

the teacher's pets said...

Thanks for commenting about my kitty friend's unusual name today! It is always entertaining to be a pet sitter, that's for sure!
I cannot imagine finding that many ants in the garden and I would do exactly what you did...leave them alone!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I don't think I've ever seen ants swarm over a plant like that.

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

We have fire ants all over our yard, and occasionally Mom gets bite and then this tiny white sac forms. Mom thinks that if you were bitten by a lot of them it could be very bad. Needless to say Mom does not like the ants very much.

Hi Charlie.

purrin
xo
Abby

Ann Best said...

I think Charlie has the right idea! Oooh, ants.

But I'm sure the plant's okay.

Hope you have a great okay weekend, from me and Jen!

Ann said...

Eewwww again! The plant looks fine though.

Charlie is as always the voice of reason.

Isn't Karen's BBQ great.

Beth Zimmerman said...

You have a whing-a-ding-ding time yourself! But don't let Charlie party too hard!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I'm all nostalgic here, since you're one of the first friends I made from Nicola's party back when, back when your other kitty was suffering her last days. So glad Charlie came into your life to cheer you (and all of us) up with his antics and his incredible attractiveness.

Empire of the Ants? That was one of my kids absolute favorite books. Somehow we had a copy. They fought over who would keep it, and my oldest son won of course, since he's the oldest. But we don't like them building their empire on your rose bush!

Summer Frey said...

Yuck. Good call...we've got some ants taking up residence in our penstemon. *sigh*

Katnip Lounge said...

Aaaiiieeeee! I don't mind spiders and snakes, but ants (and grasshoppers) are creepy. I bet you have an aphid infestation on the rose bush and the ants are eating a)the aphids or b)the honey the aphids make.

Either way, we agree with Charlie, the ants need to pay rent or vacate!

Jans Funny Farm said...

If it works, let us know. Jan says she'll gladly rent out our bushes to ants if they need housing -- and have cash.

Anonymous said...

Happy Saturday Charlie and Jenn... :)

Bossy Betty said...

Sounds like Charlie has a great idea there!

Anonymous said...

At least the ants are all on the plant - I have stepped on a fire ant hill and been bitten so that my foot and leg was all swollen! Will check out the BBQ!

dArtagnan Rumblepurr/Diego Hamlet Moonfur said...

Charlie always puts things in perspective. Good job Charlie.

Jacqueline said...

Hope you and Charlie enjoy a happy, fun weekend together...hugs, sweet friends...J, Calle, Halle, Sukki

Anonymous said...

I believe the ants are attracted by greenfly that they effectively milk them (OK I know that they’re not mammals) as we do cattle. Am I right?
Happy vegetarianing.

All the best, Boonie

Jenny Woolf said...

Oh, how disgusting! I think I might have directed a spray of soapy water at it myself....

fairyhedgehog said...

Those ants make my skin crawl!

Kea said...

Oh, ewwwwwww, gross. Masses of ants make my skin crawl. Surely there is some way to get rid of them without destroying the rose bush and without risking poisoning Charlie?

Good luck if you decide to tackle that!

Have a lovely weekend!

Hannah and Lucy said...

Jenn I am sat here scratching while I read your post. I couldn't leave them on the plant I use ant stations and leave them under a brick so the cats don't get at the poison. The ants pick it up and take it back to their nests and the nests die off. I am always frightened they'll get on to the cats fur and get brought into the home and multiply.
Charlie don't take them into your house - stay inside and chill.

Theresa Milstein said...

Yay for the BBQ. I now have a few new blogging friends because of Karen!

I met you, Karen, Brigid, and Ann from Nicola's party.

There's nothing to be done with ants outside. I'm sure the rose bush will do fine without you. I second the EW!!

Whirlochre said...

While bashing the compost from a root clump of dead box plants, guess which insects I inadvertently invited down my vest and into my underpants?

Still, shouldn't complain. Given the numbers involved, tiny insects of any denomination are way way better than slugs.

Deborah said...

Hey there! The plant looks fine and that is something I would have done too. Leave the ants alone!
Have a great weekend!
xxoo
Deborah

Marg said...

Those bad boy ants making their home in your rose bush. That was totally rude of them to do.
We will go check out Karen's blog. Sounds like great fun.
Charlie sure has a good business mind. Charge those ants some rent.
Have a spectacular week end.

Esme said...

Kitty, come back and enter the giveaway for the GC-giveaway you can use it in the UK.

Guinevere said...

I don't mind ants outside... we have sugar ants that keep making our way INDOORS. Can't leave a dish out (including kitty food) or they're all over... forcing me to be tidy. :)

Do you have ants herding aphids in England? Aphids are bad for plants, but seeing the ants herd the aphids always entertained me as a kid. Ants are pretty cool IMO, as long as they're outdoors.

cindy said...

dang, you're popular!! just wanted to say thanks for your story on my comment page...it sounds like we had a similar first experience with euthanasia (BAD) but it seems as long as we learn, life gets....well, i'm not sure WHAT it gets, but it gets more something! haha! [= on we go! =^..^=

cindy

Brian's Home Blog said...

Charlie is right, the rent from the ants could by extra treats!!!

Nicole said...

Hiya! Popping in from the BBQ - inn full swing now ;) Nice to meet you

http://damselinadirtydress.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Rose bushes are luxury condos to ants.

Charlie has a keen business sense.

Roxy said...

Ants and roses. I've never seen them together. That Charlie. He knows how to look on the bright and profitable side. I think he should be president or PM.
I've missed you, Old Kitty. I hope you've had a lovely summer.

The Island Cats said...

Wow! That's a lot of ants!! And Charlie's right...they shouldn't live there for free!

Noir the Texas Tabby said...

My human Tommy says she would left the plant too. So are the ants gonna turn into those giant THEM ants cuz they chow your plant? Then Jim Arness, before he was Marshall Dillion will have to come take of em, so you and Charlie will be safe to go outside...? Hmm.

I do like Charlie's pose and thought. Those ant NEED to pay rent!

Noir
PS.Thanks for stopping by my blog.

lupie said...

Er... Sir Charlie - why are you scratching?
The ants didn't like your rent idea??
Hehehehehee

Ellie Garratt said...

Yikes! That was a lot of ants on one plants.

DJ Kirkby said...

Oh urgh. I don't like ants very much at the moment. It seems like everytime I sit down at the computer after having been in the garden, I find an ant crawling on me. No like :(

Manzanita said...

From Karen's BBQ....I like the way you spent your birthday (from your profile) I've danced flamenco nearly all of my life and it is definitely my passion.

And your biggest treat, being carded on your 40th birthday. Of course the best is yet to come.

I am a new follower
Manzanita
Wanna buy a duck