Re: Conundrum

**T* C* v* g* <g*@lists.ibiblio.org>**

Thanks, Lee!

Oh, no. They're all moving to my house?! The compost pile especially attracts them.

I have spent my professional garden-writing career urging people not to spray willy-nilly, to read labels and follow precautions and directions, etc. etc. 

 The chemical sprays labeled for these critters are really nasty (contain allethrin, a pyrethroid), causing eye and lung irritation at the very least (also, I think, harmful to aquatic creatures, not a concern on or near my property). I had one of those moments, you know, "give me something lethal and let me soak the place down!!!" Then I collected myself and tried the Rainbow vac.

Torching? I'd burn my house down! :(

Hoping some of our colleagues on this list can add to this discussion...

Teri Dunn Chace
      Writer * Editor * Consultant * Speaker
      537 Garden St.
        Little Falls, NY 13365
        315-866-6480 
        978-317-2357 cell
        http://terichacewriter.com/
        terichace@aol.com
        LinkedIn          profile 
        JUST PUBLISHED! Seeing Seeds: A Journey into the World of Seedheads, Pods, and Fruit

-----Original Message-----
From: Lee Reich <leeareich@gmail.com>
To: Teri Chace <terichace@aol.com>; Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sun, Sep 6, 2015 12:03 pm
Subject: Re: [GWL] Conundrum

Teri, 

An hour south of you, weâve seen fewer wasps and yellow jackets this year than any other year. Most years I periodically walk around with a blowtorch, blasting nests I find in their favorite nesting places. This year, not necessary. 

Lee  

Lee Reich, PhD            

Come visit my farmden at               http://www.leereich.com/blog            

             http://leereich.com/            

Books by Lee Reich:            

              A Northeast Gardener's Year             

              The Pruning Book             

              Weedless Gardening             

              Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden             

              Landscaping with Fruit             

             Grow Fruit Naturally            

On Sep 5, 2015, at 9:08 PM, Teri Chace via gardenwriters <     gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org> wrote:    

Duane,     
Fear and trembling!! I'm not sure where you live, but here in Upstate NY, we're are seeing wasps and yellowjackets this summer that ever before, and I wonder why. A squadron attacked us on our back deck one evening, leaving four wounded. Quick action with ice packs helped a bit. Immediate action with baking-soda paste has also proven effective in reducing piercing pain and swelling at the site of the bites/stings.     

I saw Peter's comment about water, but, heavens, we are dry for weeks of late!     

I have discovered a weapon, however: the Rainbow vacuum cleaner, the model that sucks stuff (dirt and debris, and little vicious flying insects, alive or dead) into a swirling reservoir base of water. Had to outfit myself in heavy clothing to wield it. You can imagine the language on my foes I used during this operation.     

But seriously, folks, Peter or others: tell us more about their habits, any predators, any Achilles heel, any other effective battle tactics?     

---Terrified Teri     

PS I am flat-out afraid to approach my compost pile, even if armed with aforementioned Rainbow vac.     

Teri Dunn Chace     
      Writer * Editor * Consultant * Speaker     
      537 Garden St.     
        Little Falls, NY 13365     
        315-866-6480      
        978-317-2357 cell     
             http://terichacewriter.com/     
             terichace@aol.com     
        LinkedIn          profile      
        JUST PUBLISHED! Seeing Seeds: A Journey into the World of Seedheads, Pods, and Fruit     

-----Original Message-----     
From: Duane Campbell <     dcamp911@gmail.com>     
To: GWL <     gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>     
Sent: Sat, Sep 5, 2015 6:54 pm     
Subject: [GWL] Conundrum     

Itâs hard to imagine getting tired of Miss Kim lilac, but this one had taken     
over a rather large garden area. This spring I ripped most of it out, potting up     
ten one and two gallon containers to give to friends and for my annual two hour     
plant sale. (Two bucks and I couldnât sell them all; I live among Philistines.)     
The intent was to create a new planting quickly, not wait until weeds covered     
the entire plot four feet tall, but it was a cold, miserable spring. So I have     
finally gotten to it.  Since this area had been planted with shrubs and     
perennials for a couple of decades or more, little had been done to improve the     
soil. Fortunately I had two 3X3X3 foot (originally) compost piles ready to     
harvest. Simple. Deconstruct the compost piles, spread several inches on the     
plot, dig it in, and put in plants that had been waiting patiently for a few     
months.     

Not simple. (The motto on my personal crest is  Nil umquam facile est.)     
The compost has become the happy home of wasps, German yellowjackets perhaps,     
but though I speak German they donât answer), who are claiming birthright     
citizenship in my compost. These are not common stinging insects that create a     
quick burning sensation, you run in and grab the anti-sting stick (I did that),     
and after a couple of hours it goes away. No, these are super stingers. My first     
meeting provided several stings that left me in agony for two days. I have     
literally never felt such pain. Iâd rather have my gall bladder out again.     
Seriously. It took a week for the effects to completely fade.     

Much to the     
distress of my daughter who is quasi-organic, I powdered the whole compost pile     
with Sevin dust, like an April snowfall, threw a tarp over it, and waited for     
three days. Then I dressed in the August heat as if it were January, removed the     
tarp, and swung a pick into the middle of the pile. I have done a lot of stupid     
things in my life, but this is certainly in the top ten list. Fortunately there     
was little skin exposed and I had been educated by prior experience to run as if     
I were not superannuated.     

So here, finally, is my question. How do I get these     
bastards out of my compost? The barren plot out front awaits your wisdom.     

Duane Campbell     
Syndicated garden columnist     
Author: Best of Green Space; 30     
Years of Composted     
Columns     

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