Re: Aloha Even

Yellow jackets are the reason I encourage the skunk community. Skunks eat them. I, too, have lots of bees. Never realized there were so many varieties until I moved here. Nobody has been stung yet in my yard, and I've attributed that to the fact the bees are always so busy gathering pollen. I've had to "massage" a few bumble bees awake this fall. Poor little things have gotten cold and very lethargic while working on the Mexican salvia. :-) I have become a real lover of insects and am loathe to use any insecticides anymore. Actually, there's been no need to in years.
zem
zone 7
West TN
----- Original Message ----- From: <gary.carpenter@insightbb.com>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2005 7:12 AM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Aloha Even


I have 4 pawpaw, but all are seedling size. Also spicebush (Lindera
benzoin) in a shady area. It is host plant to the appropriately named
spicebush swallowtail butterfly, but I haven't seen any yet. Am also
a native plant lover. Bees and I have a live and let live
arrangement. Never been stung, and I work around them all the time.
Different story with yellow jackets - those critters are downright
aggressive and vicious.

Cathy, west central IL, z5b

On Nov 12, 2005, at 12:28 PM, Karen Fernsler wrote:


Thanks!

Yep!  I have a smallish patch of dill and fennel on the side
of the house.  Strangely did not prevent caterpillars from
finding and helping themselves to my carrots!

Well, it's not their fault.  I'll have to try to put up signs
to redirect the parents to the dill/fennel patch.  It shouldn't
be hard to find, it's next to the butterfly weed.

We always know when they're around because the yard smells like
an herbal smorgasbord as they munch away.

The swallowtails appear to like Rue (Ruta graveolens) as well.
The plant was here when we first moved in 10 years ago, which was
when I first noticed the little caterpillar guys.  They're helping
me keep it under control, I figure :) .

No insecticides here.  I've been known to dump those green Asian
beetles into a cup of soapy water from time to time, but that's
about it.

Paw paw is supposed to be a host plant for zebra swallowtails.
I'd like to try to grow some of that someday when I have the
room.  I'm a big fan of native plants, I have to add more to the
list.  I have some monarda, but methinks it needs to be further
than 12 feet from the house.

Bees tend to make some folk nervous.

I have been known to knit and crochet, but I'm lousy at sewing,
needlepoint and embroidery :(.

-s

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index