I'm a gardener and work hard out in the sun all day. I only use 100% cotton shirts & pants (w/pockets) & gloves - all light colors and a big brim straw hat that has a tie string to keep it on in the wind. when it gets really hot I wear "cool collar" and I made a "cool vest" that is terrific in hot summers here. I get all my work clothes from a thrift shop - I like Men's cotton dress shirts the best - look for the ones with a tight weave (hold it up to a light) they really can hold up. I learned this from the field workers - they may look hot in this outfit but if your skin is covered its like you are in the shade. Also, a layer of sunscreen on anything not covered will also shield you from hot rays - its amazing that it works like being under an umbrella.

Pest management is complex, if you want to learn, a good place to start is here: Integrated Pest Management This lecture is presented in two parts. Each part is 90-minutes in length. Recorded in Sacramento County in California's Sacramento Valley, this lecture is by Mary Louise Flint, Ph.D., Director, IPM Education and Publications, UC Statewide IPM Project and Extension Entomologist & Cooperative Extension Specialist. Education: B.S. Plant Science, University of California, Davis Ph.D. Entomology, University of California, Berkeley Appointment: 100% Cooperative Extension Research Interests: Integrated pest management of landscape, agricultural and garden pests; biological control of arthropod pests; alternatives to pesticides; adoption of alternative practices by practitioners; innovative delivery of pest management information. Topics discussed in the Integrated Pest Management Lecture: * IPM references and resources * Preventing pest problems * Natural common enemies * Making less toxic pesticide choices * Controlling aphids, scales, caterpillars, coddling moths, tree borers, snails and slugs, and lawn insects. You can watch the programs now online: Just make sure you have Real Player installed or download it free. Integrated Pest Management Part1 90 minutes Integrated Pest Management Part 2 90 minutes You'll want to bookmark the following link to Professor Flint's Lab Research on: Controlling Pests in Gardens and Landscapes: Vegetables and Melons I promise you'll learn one or two things to put in your gardening bag of pest management arsenals. ;)

Okay, was just googling on these guys. It sounds like I should consider myself lucky they haven't found their way into the house. I had seen some crawling outside on windows a few weeks ago, thought "What bugs are those?" and then forgot about them until I found the orgy in the little ring bed around the tree. (Which I've decided to stop....it's a mess of roots now, thanks to my application last fall of bunny poo) They're actually very pretty bugs, but so sexed up. I'm guessing this is the first time I've really seen bugs mating. For anyone who searches and finds this thread, here's a paragraph of interest on boxelders (from an extermination company): The bugs themselves are absolutely harmless - very laid-back little fellows, they'll let you handle them, they're not dirty or anything and they won't sting you or eat anything inside your house. The more you have, however, the more you'll notice that the bugs will "spot." A nice word for you-know-what. It is also quite difficult to remove the spots after a few hours.

Hi Laura, I really wanted to be at the swap today but this was a relative so there was no out. We had a good time, just got home, two hour drive each way :-( Yup, those are my baby seed pods. I'm really surprised I was able to get these things to cross-pollinate on the first try. I was just getting ready to cut this baby back hard, but not now :-) You're right about the cool things folks here have done with adeniums, sure got me hooked! Tom