I have some 'Bolero Mixed' dwarf French marigold seeds to trade. I'd love some Elderberry seeds. If you're out of those, I'd like some Dwarf White Sugar Snowpea, or carrot seeds. PLMK if interested by email, thanks.

There are more than 80 mosquito species found in Florida year round. I was surprised to read this and find out that mosquitos are active both day and night depending on the species. Some can fly as much as 25 miles! Check any object that can hold water. Even seashells can be a breeding ground for the larvae. Today I found wigglers in plant saucers and a bird bath. Those guys were not there yesterday! This link is quite interesting especially the chart that shows how long different products are effective. From the same link: What About Devices That Emit Sound To Repel Mosquitoes? There is no evidence that wearing devices that emit sound will repel mosquitoes. Will Garlic, Bananas, Or Vitamin-B Repel Mosquitoes? There is no scientific evidence that eating garlic, vitamins, onions, or any other food will make a person repellent to mosquitoes. Here is a link that might be useful: Mosquito Repellents

The best way to control mosquitoes isn't with plants (sorry). You do it simply by making your yard as inhospitable a place for mosquitoes as possible. Think of your yard like a war front where the mosquitoes are enemy invaders. As Supreme Yard Commander you have many tools at your disposal to defend your territory from these blood-sucking monsters hell-bent on making sure you can't enjoy your yard... 1) Chemical weapons (mosquito traps). 2) Biological weapons (predators). 3) Destructive force (smack!). In my own experience on this war front I've found the following strategies to be most effective at very little cost (and they're also very environmentally friendly =): A) The enemy of your enemy is your friend. Invite bats, amphibians, and reptiles over for an extended stay in your yard by giving them plenty of places to live and hide from their own predators... * Make a log pile (or two, or three!) * Instead of throwing out old fencing or wood scraps, lean some of it against the new fencing or against a tree. * Put up a bat house. * Keep your local bird population fat & happy so they don't resort to eating your precious lizards: Plant Wax Myrtle in your yard (Myrtle berries are like crack to birds. Note: This is also a good way to keep birds off of your fruit trees and berry shrubs =). I personally believe this is why all the fruit and berries at the Jacksonville Zoo are all but untouched by the birds all year long: They have Wax Myrtle *everywhere* and I always see a bird or two feasting on the berries. B) Get rid of standing water. Anything that can hold rain and sprinkler water must be removed or remediated (put them somewherre they won't get wet). C) Don't use any chemicals on your lawn or garden that are known to cause problems for amphibians. This one is hard--you'll have to check up on each and every chemical you're using to make sure that it isn't known to cause things like gender changes in frogs (and fish). Some weed killers are really bad for this. Remember: Anything that can mess up the ecosystem in your nearby waterways is likely to create mosquito problems. Mosquito larvae are just peachy growing up in polluted waterways. Their predators on the other hand... not so much. -Riskable "There's a difference between making a change and making a difference."

Hi, Floral UK. The uneaten pot is in the only spot I have for it. I know it is somewhat etoliated, but can't be helped. Those 2 pots were meant for utiliarian purposes, not necessarily esthetic. If you saw other posts of mine, I just installed my new handy-dandy sun screen for my little top-shelf hostas. It won't eliminate all the direct sun they get, but it does block it some hours of the day. Best I could do with living in an apartment situation. And, the geraniums which used to look thinned out are now budding and flowering like crazy, with the bacopa and verbena fast behind. Here, I just took a pic through the balcony door, hence the reflection of the vertical blinds. And, what balcony would be complete without a garden cat? Here is Zizu, enjoying the balcony in her own way.