Hello... Althea...thanks for your link..I just got back to this forum and noticed another post to my question. I agree with you about leaving the sunflower heads for the birds. I tried growing sunflowers many years ago, but my yard just didn't get enough sun and the only place that had the most sun was in the root zone of some trees, so it didn't work well. They didn't thrive so I stopped growing them. I do have one large 15x15 full sun perennial bed in my front yard, but not a great place for sunflowers [g]. I grow cosmos that the goldfinches also love and it is great watching them swaying on the stems to get them. That sounds like a great tip about the paper bag. I think they recommend that for corn from the raccoons too. oh..thanks for the link to NN...It looks like they are a part of gardenweb ring. that will come in handy...didn't know it was there. ftm...well you have more tolerance than I do for nests. I love bumble bees and are not afraid of them at all, but having them in a work area that I needed to access would be intolerable to me. Interesting story of the one that bumped you..[g] I tried googling the miday clavatus, but came up empty. Not sure if it could be a fly, but if it is, it looks exactly like a wasp. [g] Actually just re read your description and this insect has all bright orange legs. Thanks for the try.. :-) Adam

"I already planted an herb garden full of stuff that attracts them, but none of the herbs currently have flowers. so if I have time I'll buy some marigolds this weekend. maybe I'm weird, but I don't like planting flowers. I like my garden to be full of plants that I can eat. I tend to leave the pretty looking stuff to my wife. I'll make an exception for plants that attract things that keep my plants edible. " -------------- I'm the same way. But now i realize if I ever want to conquer most pest infestations and eliminate bi-weekly spraying of every veggy in the garden, I'm going to have to let nature do the fighting. Some herbs tend to satisfy guys like you and I. But they only flower for a short time and then they're dead. Flowers though can be planted at different times of the year to where you have some "flowering" at almost any time of the year in mild climates. This way, you have a constant population of the good guys. Other "edibles" which are beneficial attractors that you may look in to are fennel(watch it though, most other veggies don't like being planted next to fennel), sunflowers, corn, lavender, wild carrots. Also, there's mixed reviews about ANY pesticide -- homemade or commercial, synthetic or organic. Neem oil interrupts the feeding cycle... which is why I suggest it. I just feel that it's necessary to bring the population levels down to a point where the beneficials can manage them without YOU spraying more soap and/or neem. Yep. marigolds are probably the quickest and easiest at this point -- they're already flowering in pony packs at the garden centers. Good luck. Kevin

Ray, the late summer/autumn pea crop has suffered from a massively wet autumn. The broad beans have suffered too. They hate wet feet. It was so wet that even the flavour of this season's oil was affected. Less peppery than usual. We were meant to have a bona fide glass glasshouse well before now. Hold ups with the work on the house delayed it. The house took priority. For some reason. It will be in place next year. In the meantime, before spring, I'll create a temporary structure at the top of the new garden to give the spring plantings a flying start. Last night we took some visitors up to our local trattoria in the hills above the town. Great food, as always, including my usual pici with cinghiale ragu and a glorious marscapone dessert that I've had before. It verges on tiramisu but stops short. All in front of a roaring log fire. Had to scrape the ice off the windscreen before we could drive home.

Im so sorry everyone, I have been so emotionaly drained that I even forgot my pass word for a few hours..That's bad! how are you all...? Magyy, Cory's orchids are so beautiful I agree, and personally, I think her bugs might as well become her friends instead of foe because they appreciate them as much as we do))) Hey maybe if me make these nugs our friends, they might just stay friends..I suppose they might like the smell of Rosemary! I think once you find that you get addicted to orchids more than Citrus, oops, did I say that? lol..You will be adding another space heater in there some how.lol That is the ONLY way I can keep them in there..When temps dip into the teens, then it's time to use the secondary heater to keep temps into the low 60's...You should see all the stuff starting to respond to the sun rising higher in the sky.. I hope the stuff on the posrch holds out until spring now that the sun is heating it up a bit more on the afternoons...Love it!@! Cory, what the heck kind of Phal is that!!? I think it's quite unusual!! If it makes a Kiki, you know what you can do with it?lol Once again your orchids are to die for..So pretty despite the bugs as Maggy says..You must be doing a fantastic job at keeping them at bay, because your orchids would not look that nice.) Cory, you know the one that you have various colors of purple on? Do they have a fragrance? I think they do..If so. I will buy one just like that off of you! My mom is in love with it, and that is quite rare for her))) I love it myself..In fact, I was looking to get one if it is fragrant. I must say, that your greenhouse is MUCH busier in the flowering department that mines is((..You lucky thing you! By the way, I have lots of Dendrobiums that are fragrant starting to flower..Would you like me to take a pic in case you want a cutting?? One is quite amazing and stays rather kept..It smells lovely and has white flowers with lime green coloring about it...I can take a pic for you) I also have a DEEP purple one if given lots of sunlight which I don't have which has wond frist place at Orchids shows...I would share that with you too) Both of these don't need a rest period and in fact can grow right amoung the Cattleya and Phals! Brian, you know what I might to grow next??? I grafted Mango and or Papaya...I wonder though if they needs lots of sunlight in the winter too to grow to ripe stage? You certainly have to get that solar cover next year Brian! How is your heat holding up? Maggy, wowowowowowo..That looks like one lonely greenhouse out there in the middle of snow where and look, it looks like Santa forgot to put that greenhouse on his sleigh and go back to the North Pole with it.lolol I'll be he would love a place nice and warm up there about now. What a great job gift wrapping it..Don't you just love lifting the front to get inside and having all the little snow and ice chunks ruin your hair...lololo..I alwasy shower after I have been in the greenhouse.Imagine that, other than your own house, many of your prized possessions are hunkered down in there! Happy as a lark though! Did I miss anything guys???? I didn't have time to go back and read all that I missed, but I will soon..If I missed anything important or questions, please tell me.. Thank you for your support and you are all a great bunch of friends)