Ants/pests and the seedhunt seed list

The winter rains have begun in the Santa Cruz Mtns. Last winter saw 100 
inches during El Nino's visit. This winter is forecast to be colder but 
not as wet. At Cabrillo College we have hundreds of thousands of ants 
everywhere that love to spread pests around. Instead of "Lions and Tigers 
and Bears, Oh my"  we have aphids, mealybugs and scale, yuke!  We put out 
ant stakes, we spray with soaps, we use the insecticidal chalk, we flood 
them when possible and yet they continue to come back for more. Although 
they  can cause considerable problems with pest control they seem to be 
particularly interested in visiting certain types of crops such as 
succulents (esp. donkey tails), Astelia sp. and some of the Miscanthus 
grasses. So I guess what I am saying is...we have learned to live with 
them but I sure wouldn't lose any sleep if some anteaters or some potent 
biological control came along. It seems like plants in containers are 
particularly susceptable to ants. They love to go into the pots and they 
love to bring along their pesty friends.

Several people have mentioned Ginny Hunt's seed list. Today I received 
her hot off the press fall 1998 seed list via email. Anyone interested in 
her email seed list can send a request to seedhunt@aol.com    Ginny has 
some choice and most unusual Medit Plant seeds in her newest seedlist.

Happy Autumn,
Ernie



Among the Sages of Cabrillo College
Over 175 different Salvias and growing...

Ernie G. Wasson
Ben Lomond,California 
"All Plants Considered" column at www.gardens.com
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