“My Vintage Garden” celebrates gardens and flowers in antiques, collectibles and jewelry. Included are intriguing historical information, curious bits of folklore and a few useful gardening tips. Flowers have inspired art and design since ancient times, and their beauty, symbolism and sentimental meaning make our treasured collectibles even more precious.

Legends vary about how the lady bug came to be named, but the most common is that during the Middle Ages, in Europe, swarms of insects were destroying the crops. The farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help. Soon, the small red beetles came, devouring the pests and saving the harvest! The farmers called these insects "The Beetles of Our Lady", and they eventually became known as "Lady Beetles" or “Lady Bugs”.

Ladybugs are a bit clumsy in flight and don’t seem to fear a rest stop on your arm. Even small children love the familiar little red beetle with spots on each wing. Their bright colors serve as a warning sign to birds and other potential predators that they don’t taste good.

Female ladybugs produce clusters of 20-50 yellow-orange oval-shaped eggs in the early spring -- you can usually find them stuck to the undersides of leaves. The eggs soon hatch, and the ravenous blue-black larvae immediately begin gorging on aphids, mealy bugs, scale insects, and other pests.  One larva can consume as many as 400 aphids during the 3-week period before it enters the pupae stage and turns into an adult.

Ladybugs hibernate during the autumn and winter. They find cozy hideaways from the cold under logs or piles of leaves. As the spring sun warms them they awake, hungry for a meal of aphids.

Ladybug charms are always in demand, but just at the other ladybugs I found on Ruby Lane! They appear on purses, jewelry, peeking amid the flowers on pottery and porcelain and even on children’s toys. Everyone loves ladybugs.

Thanks again to the shops who allowed me to use their photos of Lady Bug items!

Hoosier Collectibles - Ladybug & Flower Jeweled Bucket Canvas Purse

Romancing The Past - Royal Crown Porcelain Bowl and Pitcher ~ "Spring Time"

Judy's Gems - Vintage Carved Pink Plastic J.J. Rose Pin

Artful Toys and Antiques - TPS Lady-bug Family Parade-Mint in Box

A Place of Distinction - Enamel Frog & Lady Bug Rhinestone Trembling Brooch

Shirley's Antique Gallery - Fabulous Meissen Plate Reticulated Hand Painted Florals

Seasons Past - Kenneth J. Lane KJL Enameled Brass Leaf & Ladybug Pin Tray

Off the Wall Mosaics - Limoges Lady Bug Peint Main Box

Suzan Miller - SuzansTreasures

About me: I have had the Ruby Lane shop “SuzansTreasures” for over 10 years. I have been involved with antiques and collectible business all my life, as my mother, grandparents and great-grandmother all had antique shops. I also have a life-long love of gardening. I am a member of several gardening societies and am a qualified flower show judge.