Jeanner, We are pretty much in the middle of North Florida. About 90 miles west of Jacksonville. We are just supposed to get lots of rain and some wind. And sometimes with this we lose power for a few days. Lots of very old trees that sometimes fall on lines due to the weight of the water and the wind. We don't anticipate any problems since we have generators and we don't have trees near the house. I might have to dump some water from the pond a few times, but that isn't a problem. Florida will probably develope some sinkholes from this, which can be very scary at times. Glenda

Hugs to your poor daughter! yes, what happens is that young baby toddlers are very uncoordinated and will fall very easily. I am thinking she must have somehow fallen unto that bee when she was very young. Normally bees never ever sting unless they are in danger or their hive are being invaded; they are normally very gentle especially! the bumblebees. They themselves are very clumsy and will often tumble around on their flower. I too, if I were a Mom would hate or be afraid of a bee if that had happened to my daughter, but am hoping you will eventually understand that bees aren't pests but are essential to farmers; they have to bring beekeepers in to pollinate their fruits and vegetables. That is why so many people are concerned about their disappearance. Without bees we won't have fruits to eat and seeds to plant. That is how critical bees are. At Powell Gardens where I visit, they purposefully keep their gardens pesticide free and have butterfly and bee exhibits for the children to enjoy. There are bees everywhere! All kinds of varieties. My mom too is allergic to stings and has to be hospitalized if she were to get stung. She was stung by a yellow jacket about twenty years ago. But she loves watching the bees up close. She doesn't like yellow jackets and will avoid or walk away from them. Interestingly, I didn't see any yellowjackets at Powell Gardens. Maybe because the multitude of bees kept them away because of the food competition? sort of interesting. If this were the case than having lots of bees to keep those nasty yellowjackets away would be terrific. Some yellow jackets can have a nasty foul temper unlike the gentle bumblebee. Another wonderful thing about Powell Gardens is that they have a vegetable garden for families to eat and take free goodies with them, all thanks to the bees pollinating all the stuff (smiley face).

Dry White Sage is a natural cheap and cheery ladybug repellent. Here is a recipe from the link listed below Garlic Oil Sprays: Organic gardeners have long been familiar with the repellent or toxic affect of garlic oil on pests. when it is combined with mineral oil and pure soap,as it is in the recipe that follows, devised at the Henry Doubleday Research Association in England, it becomes an effective insecticide. Some studies also suggest that a garlic oil spray has fungicidal properties. Protection Offered: Good results, with quick kill, have been noted against aphids, cabbage loopers, earwigs, June bugs, leafhoppers, sqaush bugs and whiteflies. The spray does not appear to harm adult lady beetles, and some gardeners have found that is does'nt work against the Colorado potaoe beetles, grape leaf skeletonizers, grasshoppers, red ants, or sowbugs. How to Make: Soak 3 ounces of finely minced garlic cloves in 2 teaspoons of mineral oil for at least 24 hours. Slowly add 1 pint of water that has 1/4 ounce liquid soap or commercial insecticide soap mixed into it. Stir thoroughly and strain into a glass jar for storage. use at a rate of 1 to 2 Tablespoons of mixture to a pint of water. If this is effective, try a more dilute solution in order to use as little as possible. How to Use: Spray plants carefully to ensure thorough coverage. To check for possible leaf damage to sensitive ornamentals from the oil and soap in the spray, do a test spray on a few leaces or plants first. If no leaf damage occurs in 2 or 3 days, go ahead and spray more. Pyrethrin The dried, powdered flowers of the pyrethrum daisy, Tanacetum cinerarifolium, were used as early as 1880 to control mosquitoes. The popularity of pyrethrum insecticides waned when synthetic insecticides were introduced, but they are now enjoying a commercial comeback. Many new products formulated with natural pyrethrums are available. Pyrethrins are the insecticidal chemicals extracted from the pyrethrum daisy. Do not confuse them with pyrethroids, the term for a new class of synthetic pesticides. Pyrethrums, which are mainly concentrated in the seeds of the flower head, are a contact insecticide, meaning the insect only has to touch the substance to be affected. Pyrthrins have a quick knockdown effect on insects: Flying insects are paralyzed. pyrethrins can be applied up to one day before harvest because they are quickly destroyed by light and heat and are not persistent in the environment. Pyrthrins will kill lady beetes but do not appear to be harmful to bees. They are toxic to fish and to the aqautic insects and other small animals that fish eat. Pyrethrins do not seem to be toxic to birds or mammals. Protection Offered: Pyrethrins are registered for flowers, fruits, and vegetables, including greenhouse crops. they are effective on many chewing and sucking insects, including most aphids, cabbage loopers, celery leaftiers, codling moth, Colarado potaotoe beetles, leafhoppers, Mexican bean beetles, spider mites, stink bugs, several species of thrips, tomato pinworms, and whiteflies. they are especially good against flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and stored products pests. Flea beetles are not affected, nor are imported cabbageworms, diamondback moths, pear psylla, and tarnished plant bugs. How to Make: If you grow your own pyrethrum daisies, you'll have the main ingredient for a make-it-yourself spray. The concentration of pyrethrums is at its peak when the flowers are in full bloom, from the time the first row of florets open on the central disk opens too the time all the florets are open. pick flowers in full bloom and hang them in a sheltered, dark spot to dry. Once the flowers have dried thoroughly, grind them to afine powder, using a mortar and pestle, old blender or small hammer mill. Mix with water and add a few drops of liquid soap. Store in a glass jar and keep the lid tightly closed, because the mixture looses activity if left open. You'll have to experiment with the amount of water to add, because the concentration of pyrethins in the flowers is an unknown variable. If the spray you make does not seem to kill insects, use less water the next time you make the concentrated spray. Also keep in mind whole flower heads stay potent longer so do not grind until ready to use. How to Use: Pyrethrins are more effective at lower temperatures, so for best results, apply in early evening when temperatures are lower. Spray both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves, because spray must directly contact the insects such as thrips that hide in leaf sheaths and crevices. The first spray will excite them and bring them out of hiding, the second will kill them. Never use pyrethrin products around waterways and ponds. There are also products available that contain no harmful poisons one is called THE ASIAN LADYBUG TRAP I hope you found this information helpful Best of Luck

Thanks for answering my questions. Like I thought you don't use Sevin. If you don't use Sevin how can you say it doesn't work on Spider mites? I am just wondering. Sevin is one of the most selling products in the US. You can buy them from HD, Lowe's and all the nursery through out the U.S. Did it change this year? I have been using it for years, it keeps my rose garden bugs free. I don't love it, but it works well when it comes to bugs. I am a part time gardener with a lot of roses (500+), I am into quick and easy way to keep roses healthy and in bloom. That's my goal. If I know other better and quicker way around, I am willing to give it try in the future, but so far Sevin works for me on pretty much all bugs but rose midges. it's more like a t shirt one size fits all. Thanks