Mosquitoes in Your Garden? Try Planting These!
If you are a serious gardener, you spend lots of time outdoors. And, for sure, you would rather be tending your plants than swatting mosquitoes. While there are many things you can do to keep mosquitoes away, there are some plants that will beautify your yard and help repel mosquitoes. As one more way to keep mosquitoes away from you and your yard, try planting these attractive plants. HORSEMINTHorsemint has a scent similar to citronella.
Horsemint grows wild in most of the Eastern United States, from Mexico, Texas up to Minnesota to Vermont. It is partial to sandy soils and will grow in USDA Zones 5-10. Native Americans used it as a treatment for colds and flu. It has natural fungicidal and bacterial retardant properties because it's essential oils are high in thymol.ROSEMARYThis wonderful herb we use for seasoning is also a great, natural mosquito repellant. It has been used for centuries to keep pesky mosquitoes away.
Rosemary is a native of the Mediterranean, so it likes hot, dry weather and well-drained soil. It is hardy in USDA zones 8-10, and must be grown as a pot plant in colder climates. If you happen to live in a part of the country where rosemary does not grow, you can get a good quality rosemary essential oil; mix 4 drops with ? cup olive oil. Store in a cool, dry place. When it comes to fresh plant oils as natural mosquito repellants, there is every reason to have the plant in your yard, if they will grow in your area.
It is an inexpensive and attractive way to boost the appearance of the landscape and have natural mosquito repellants on hand as well. MARIGOLDSOrganic gardeners have used marigolds as companion plants to keep aphids away. Mosquitoes don't like its scent any better (and some humans feel the same way). Marigolds are sun-loving annuals that come in a variety of shapes and sizes for almost any landscape. They are quite easy to grow from seed.
AGERATUMThis charming little bedding plant contains coumarin, and mosquitoes detest the smell. It is used in the perfume industry and is even in some commercial mosquito repellants. Don't rub ageratum on your skin, though. It has some other less desirable elements that you don't want to keep on your skin in quantity. Ageratums are annuals, and the come in a muted blue and white that compliments most other plantings.
MOSQUITO PLANTSThere are two types of plants that are called mosquito plants. One is a member of the geranium family that was genetically engineered to incorporate the properties of citronella. Citronella only grows in tropical places, but it is a well known repellant for mosquitoes. This plant was created to bring the repellant properties of citronella into a hardier plant. It will grow where any geranium will thrive.
Many have questioned its usefulness as a mosquito repellant, but it is attractive enough to warrant planting for it's ornamental value. The other kind of mosquito plant is agastache cana. Its common names include Texas hummingbird mint, bubblegum mint, giant hyssop, or giant hummingbird mint. As you might guess, hummingbirds are quite attracted to it. It is a New Mexico native, also found in parts of Texas.
It is, in fact, a member of the mint family and its leaves do have a pungent aroma when crushed. In its native habitat, it is perennial, and is usually hardy in USDA Zones 5a-9a. It blooms late summer to early fall, so it catches hummingbirds on their annual migration. The long, medium pink flowers reel in butterflies as well.CATNIPOne of the most powerful mosquito repellant plants is ordinary catnip. Recent studies have shown that it is ten times more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes.
It is a short lived perennial throughout most of the United States. It is easy to grow from seed, and quickly reseeds. Aside from its intoxicating effects on cats, the leaves make a very soothing tea. With all of these plants, the leaves must be crushed to release the aroma. Otherwise mosquitoes can't smell them.
And, with rosemary and catnip, you can simply crush a few leaves and rub on your skin and clothing to enhance the effect. So, next time you are revising your plantings, consider using some of these attractive plants to do more than just enhance the landscape. You can have pretty ornamentals that also drive mosquitoes away..
Revivin' From Revivals
Remember the revivals they used to have around these parts back when we were growing up? I sure do. Back in those days, most churches had at least one revival each summer, usually in either July or August. We're not talking just one night revivals, either - some of these revivals ran for at least three or four nights, and sometimes even longer. The preachers who did these revivals were typically from some of the other churches in the area. Doing these services gave them a chance to preach at other locations, and it also gave them the chance to experience new congregations.
Sometimes churches would be so impressed with a revival preacher that they'd ultimately ask him to become their pastor. I think, for the preachers, revivals were a great thing. For those of us in the congregation, revivals were a mixed blessing. First, they had them for at least three or four consecutive nights, and you had to attend each night. That meant three or more consecutive nights of church services...
Revivin' From Revivals
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Have Green In Your Yard All Year With The Ever Green Evergreen
For landscape artists, green is the perfect background. It provides tranquility and is cool in the eye. By staring at a green landscape, the eyes relax and are soothed.
Because ever green shrubs are in constant foliage all year round, these bushes are preferred by most gardeners (or people who love gardening.) Evergreen shrubs that have needles are used in hedges. They can be trimmed to a certain shape, thus made more appealing.
Here are some evergreen shrubs you might want to consider planting in your garden.
1. Glossy Abelia
Comes from Chinese shrubs it has a dark green foliage. It is very compact it can be molded into perfect mounds.
2. Flowering Maple Bush
Usually four inches, flowering maple bush continues to flourish even during winter.
They are referred to as 'maples' because of its shape. Alternate name is "Chinese Lanterns."
3. Wickwar Flame
During spring and summer,...
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10 Great Wine Tasting Tips
1. Try something new and you might be surprised. Let the staff make suggestions. Compare the wines aged in steel to those aged in oak barrels. 2.
Take Notes especially if you are gone all day. Most wineries offer a list that will assist you on keeping track. When you get home to your local wine shop, you will appreciate having a cheat sheet.3. Visit during off season. November through May is an excellent time.
You might be only one of the few guests all day, so the staff can give you some extra time.4. Ask Questions. Winery staff love to be engaged and help educate. They are trained to know a lot about the wines you taste.5. Eat the crackers.
They help you clean your palate and absorb the alcohol.6. Don't just stick with the big-name wineries. Check out some of the smaller ones in the area.7. The nose, knows. Try not to use too much perfume or aftershave.
The aroma of the wine is half the fun of tasting.8. Call ahead for large parties. If you call ahead some...
10 Great Wine Tasting Tips
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Wedding Anniversary Gifts
Wedding anniversaries have special personal significance. Each additional year is a milestone in the life a couple. It encapsulates the daily struggles in life, the memorable moments of happiness, and the simple joys of being with each other, and celebrates yet another year of togetherness. It is a triumph of a personal sort for couples, for all of us are aware of that living together requires much more than just love for each other. A wedding anniversary gift exchange is a tangible symbol of love that grows stronger with each passing year.
It signifies that a person still occupies a special place in the heart. It
provides an opportunity to couples to sit back and reminiscence about the golden moments of their life that often gets obliterated in routine drudgery. A special gift often rekindles dying romance in a couple's life.
The traditional concepts of paper, cotton, leather, fruit and flowers, wood gifts, in the initial wedding years found its genesis...
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Last Minute Gift Ideas For Mom
(ContentDesk) May 12, 2006 -- Moms spend years caring for their sons and daughters. They shower them with love and affection and attend to their every need. However we have just one day a year to say thank you to mom. How does one say,
"Thank you mom, your special", with that perfect mother's day gift?The most popular choices are obvious. [url=http://theplacetoshop4everything.com/Store/home.asp?home_id=16&b=1]Perfume![/url]is very popular.
Husbands can not go wrong with choosing a dazzing piece of [url=http://theplacetoshop4everything.com/Store/home.asp?home_id=1&b=1]jewelry[/url]to show mom she is still beautiful and to make her feel special.
One also can't go wrong with beautiful flowers to put a smile on her face.Mother's always appriciate gifts that help them relax...
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Last Minute Gift Ideas For Mom
(ContentDesk) May 12, 2006 -- Moms spend years caring for their sons and daughters. They shower them with love and affection and attend to their every need. However we have just one day a year to say thank you to mom. How does one say,
"Thank you mom, your special", with that perfect mother's day gift?The most popular choices are obvious. [url=http://theplacetoshop4everything.com/Store/home.asp?home_id=16&b=1]Perfume![/url]is very popular.
Husbands can not go wrong with choosing a dazzing piece of [url=http://theplacetoshop4everything.com/Store/home.asp?home_id=1&b=1]jewelry[/url]to show mom she is still beautiful and to make her feel special.
One also can't go wrong with beautiful flowers to put a smile on her face.Mother's always appriciate gifts that help them relax...
Perfume > Last Minute Gift Ideas For Mom
The origins of Valentines Day
Every year February 14th is celebrated as a day for love, exchange of gifts, promises of eternal passion, and more. The inspired pen poems inspired by their love and admiration for the women of their dreams while others just go to shops and buy commercially available verses.
Valentines means candy, chocolates, perfume, red hearts, balloons, and more. Have you ever wondered when the celebration first originated? Well in ancient Rome, February heralded the coming to spring a time for rejuvenation, fertility, and growth.
In ancient times, Romans celebrated in February a festival to honor the god of fertility who provided them with progeny and ensured a god crop.
In Rome February 15th was celebrated as the feast of Lupercalla and Feb 14th as a holiday in honor of Juno the queen of Roman gods and goddesses. On the eve of Lupercalla a glass jar was filled to the brim with chits on which were penned the names of all eligible girls. Then young men would...
The origins of Valentines Day
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