Re: garden shows and mosquito repellant plants

**W*@aol.com**

Mosquito-repellant plant -- I ran this short piece July 06 in our  Washington 
Gardener Enews:

Beautyberry Provides Mosquito  Relief

A traditional folk remedy, known among people in  Mississippi's hill country 
for at least a century, may provide some relief  without all the worries of 
DEET and other harsh chemicals. Scientists at the  United States Department of 
Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service housed at  the National Center for 
Natural Products Research at the University of  Mississippi have isolated 
compounds in the American beautyberry plant,  Callicarpa americana, that may keep 
chomping insects away.  
"My grandfather would cut branches with the leaves still  on them and crush 
the leaves, then he and his brothers would stick the branches  between the 
harness and the horse to keep deerflies, horseflies and mosquitoes  away," said 
Charles T. Bryson, an ARS botanist in Stoneville. "I was a small  child, maybe 7 
or 8 years old, when he told me about the plant the first time.  For almost 
40 years, I've grabbed a handful of leaves, crushed them and rubbed  them on my 
skin with the same results."  
Bryson told his supervisor about the folklore repellent,  and in 2004 the 
USDA-ARS at the UM natural products research center began  investigating the 
beautyberry plant as a potential natural insect repellent.  Three repellent 
chemicals were extracted during the 12-month study:  callicarpenal, intermedeol and 
spathulenol. The research concluded that all  three chemicals repulse 
mosquitoes known to transmit yellow fever and malaria.  For more information about 
research at NCNPR, go to: _www.olemiss.edu_ (http://www.olemiss.edu) . 
BTW I have a callicarpa and tried the leaf-rubbing thing -- far less bites  
than usual this past summer though we ALSO had a drought here - so  really need 
to do more self-testing in a "normal" year.

Small request - when people put up garden shows/event -  can they add the 
range of dates? Maybe also a site link to  the organizers? For me "show in SF" is 
pretty vague for travel  planning or researching and I know there are many 
competing (but maybe inferior)  events.
   Donna - there are lots of smaller, lovely shows plus  festivals in our DC 
area and many are speciality ones  - so depends on  what you are "into." 
Azaleas? Orchids? Natives? Pomds? Indoors? Out? Talks?  Shopping? None of the above?

Sincerely,
Kathy Jentz
Editor/Publisher
Washington  Gardener Magazine
826 Philadelphia Ave.
Silver Spring MD  20910
301-588-6894
editor@washingtongardener.com
_www.WashingtonGardener.com_ (http://www.washingtongardener.com/) 

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In a message dated 1/30/2008 11:29:07 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
donna@icangarden.com writes:

I have  one person get back to me with great garden shows to see in the US
beside  Philly, Boston and Seattle..is there nothing more worth while  going
to?  

The next question has to do with Mosquito  repellant plants.has anyone heard
of this before and do they exist? We have  a guy here in Panama that says
that he has planted these around a lake and  I just don't believe they exist.
I don't want to say anything because I  haven't lived here long enough to
argue, but I have still never heard of  this.  Expert  opinions?

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