It makes sense that a granular form of spinosad would be more effective. And maybe it would kill black ants . . . it just doesn't list them. For the ants that invade our kitchen, we get something called Uncle Henry - it's a bait they are attracted to and they take it to the nest. But I think it's just borax mixed with a sweetener. You could try mixing some laundry borax with some corn syrup and setting it out in shallow containers away from pets. I've used water bottle tops as they are small and easy to tuck away. Watch and see if the ants flock to it and eat it. Amdro is another thing to try. When ants would get into my sweet feed bin in the barn, I'd pile some Amdro next to the bin and the ants left the horse food in favor of the Amdro. Let us know what ends up working for you. Susie

I've been to Organics OKC (at 36th and Penn) several times to buy garden supplies that no one else in the area seems to carry (like coconut coir). The owners are very nice and really interested in helping out the gardening community. I know that they are trying to carry a wide range of products and are working on finding as many local gardening products as possible. I don't know if they have Tomato Tone, but they do carry Fox Farm organic fertilizers. I haven't tried Fox Farm, but I've heard good things about them. And, if you're set on Espoma, talk to the owners about ordering some. I'm sure they'd be glad to look into stocking any organic supplies that customers want to buy. -Megan

Update: Called Satterlee's, they're out for the season. They reccommended Precur on 10th/Reno, called them, they have Virginanus, and couldn't tell me anything more about the Cultivar (haven't had great luck with them). Called a place in Richardson that specialized in trees, the fellow there didn't know what I was talking about, but was good enough to reccommend what he sadi was a large tree-farm south of Tyler, Rennerwood Nursery. Called them, they didn't grow Fusiformus. Then called Sunshine and struck paydirt. Spent some time speaking with Steve, he confirmed that they sold Fusiformus from the Quartz Mountain area. However, he believes that Fusiformis reputation for smaller size is probably a result of harsh environment, rather than genetic predisposition (he says that he knows of a Live Oak, presumeably a native in the Quartz Mountain area, whose diameter it would take three men with out-stretched arms to encircle). Unfortunately, he's out of the larger ones: the OKC zoo has some sort of project that involves native species and they've cleaned him out (Post, Blackjacks, etc, at least the larger ones) but he'll have some ready for the Spring. I enjoyed speaking with him so much that I'll wait untill then. That may work out better: after pondering just where I want to plant the Live Oak I've decided that a Cedar is in the way. I'll have to get it out of the way, and now I have a season to do it. shows the front, roughly south side of the lot. The Cedar is visible in the far-right mid-ground, on the flat. Other, perhaps more aesthetically pleasing areas are undesireable: I can't plant the Live Oak near the street, in the fore-ground: there is a power box within 20' or so and the cables radiate out from it in all directions. There's also a culvert (just visible beneath the drive) that drains the entire street: that area can stay damp, and actually soggy, for long periods of time.

What I was trying to communicate is that once you see the leaf miner damage they are usually gone. To prevent leafminer damage and or establishment of leav chewing insects you have to be proactive and spray the spinosad on the plant before you notice damage. Spraying leafminer damaged leaves does nothing becasue in most cases the leaf miners are gone by the time you notice the damage. I have been very happy with Spinosad products. They are not broad spectrum and have minimal effect on beneficials. When used in Fire ant bait it is quiete effective and as a spray I have so far been lucky not to have any pest problems this season, but it is anectdotal because I didn't sacrifice any plants as "controls" for a real scientific experience.