They are definitely bumble bees. I'm just not completely sure what type. For a while, I thought they were Golden Northern Bumble Bee. Now that I've been watching them for a few days, I think they are Common Eastern Bumble Bees. We've had yellowjacket nests in the past and don't mess around with them. They almost had my husband in the hospital. When he accidentally disturbed their nest, the YJs chased him down the street and stung him 14 times. He was on Benadryl for 2 weeks following. These fellas are about 12 mm long and kind of chubby looking. They have a large furry black head, a yellow furry thorax with a big black spot on the top, and a black furry abdomen. They have two rather see through black wings which the fold overlapping on their back when they are mumbling around on my flowers. They also have black legs on which you can see big sacks of pollen when they are returning to the nest. And, as I said, they are really quite docile. The only time we upset them was when my husband pushed the lawnmower right over the top of their nest. Other than that, you can sit on the ground right next to them and watch them go in and out for hours and they won't bother you a bit. But at this point we are VERY CAREFUL not to tromp on their entrance holes and I won't let the children play anywhere near the nest. (The dog is, of course, more difficult to control - the big goofball.) What I keep wishing for is a nice hungry skunk. The children are generally allergic (cats, dogs, rabbits, pollen, nuts, milk, wheat, etc.), but neither has ever been stung. Unfortunately, we didn't have them tested for bee sting allergies when we had them tested. So at this point, it's an unknown. We do have epi-pens which I carry around for "just in case." About the Rotenone . . . I read online that it is not toxic to bees except in combination with pyrethrum. Here is the link: http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/rotenone.htm The Rotenone/Pyrethrins mixture that Bonide sells is a liquid spray. If someone pours this liquid down their hole at night, won't that cause them to come out in attack mode? I think I'm just a little confused as to logistics. I think I'll try the water/hose method first. It would be optimal to just convince them to move house.

I know it is borderline sacrilegious to exterminate perfectly good shrubs/perennials ===>>> thats PC nonsense .. you are the keeper of your domain ... whatever pleases you. go for it ... its not like you are going to pave it.. cut to ground level .. and apply 41% full strength roundup or stumpkiller to the green band that goes around the cut part.. the cambian ... maybe 1/4 teaspoon per plant ... i have some in a mustard holder for ease of drippage ... excess volume is simply a waste.. and pollution ... check beck every month or so.. snip off any new shoots.. and again use the killer on anything green ... in most cases they should be gone by the end of summer.. on all but the most stubborn plants ... in the alternative.. start digging ... ken

I have been dealing with raccoon problems in my backyard and swimming pool recently. After a lot of online research, I cam across a few posts which got my attention. page. On one particular page, several people were discussing the merits of keeping raccoons as pets. I thought this was kind of bizarre, considering the experiences I have had with these creatures. Some people just don't realize that raccoons are wild animals. They belong in the Wild. And when they are living these apart from humans, they are great creatures. However, they are clearly not pets. Also, raccoons carry rabies. Problems develop when people live in urban inhabited by raccoons. In these instances, there is potential for a lot of problems. Raccoons regularly invade backyards looking for food, shelter, etc. Raccoons search garbage cans and dig up lawns looking for grubs. Grubs are these insects which live under your lawn and eat your grass. Raccoons feed on grubs and other insects. Raccoons also love swimming pools. They drink the water from pools.They also like to swim in the pools and play water games, just like humans. I was reading about this guy who had a problem with raccoons in his yard and pool. The raccoons were taking a crap in his pool almost every night. (They are nocturnal creatures. If you encounter them in the day, stay far away, they could have rabies.) These raccoons were using this pool as a toilet. I have seen others who were having this same problem as well. I found this particular post quite interesting. I thought I would share it: Wondering How to Get Rid of Raccoons from Your Backyard? That post, http://www.solveraccoonproblems.com How to Get Rid of Raccoons with A Motion Activated Sprinkler (My Review)[/url], is a very good read. It is also quite informative about raccoons and their behavior in environments where humans live. Almost all people who live in areas frequented by these creatures report having problems with them. What I like about that particular article is that it offered a way to get rid of raccoons from your backyard in a very humane way. It's worth checking out.

Hi Jill: This is an interesting 'garden preservation' question, I think. My small 14' x 70' backyard borders the yards of no less than 4 neighbors, so I have had occasion to think about this type of situation often. My experience in installing a new fence and perimeter boundary several years ago would provide good fodder for a TV sitcom; perhaps someday I shall recount the stories here. Here are a couple of thoughts: You are of course right to be concerned about what the new neighbors will do. But why not wait to talk to them before going too far down the road with re-design ideas? Having the current owner mention your role in maintaining the hedge was a good idea; otherwise, however, my advise would be to go slowly. Don't try to get them to take a position on the hedge one way or another until they've had a chance to settle in and give it some thought. When you've had a chance to meet them, you might casually mention something like "____ told me she mentioned the work I've done in the past to maintain the hedge between our houses. I'm sure you have a lot of other things on your mind right now, but sometime after you've had a chance to settle in, I'd love to talk to you about it for a bit . . . ." Who knows, the may _love_ the dense hedge and the privacy it provides. Especially if it is clear you are willing to continue maintaining it. Just think of the numerous posts on the Landscape Design forum each day saying "help, I want a tall privacy hedge FAST!" From my own experience as a new homeowner, though, I did learn to be wary of neighbors who descended on me with their various agendas before I had even had a chance to unpack my boxes. Another way to approach this dilemna would be to think about how much the hedge as it exists is worth to you. Instead of investing $$ in new plants and hardscape, you might think about offering your new neighbors some remuneration in return for an easement on their property allowing you to keep and maintain the hedge. An easement would be recorded on their deed, so would provide you with protection even if they in turn were to sell the house. I can't offer legal advice, and you'd have to check with a qualified real estate lawyer in your state, but generally speaking I think that such an easement could either "run with the land" (i.e. be a permanent easement for the benefit of whomever lives on your property) or it could run for a defined period of time--e.g., as long as you and your family occupy your lot. The latter would be a less costly investment for you and possibly more attractive to the property owners, since a permanent easement might be perceived as having a greater (negative) impact on resale value. Alternatively, I wonder if it would be possible to enter into a long-term "lease" of the stip on which the hedge sits for a modest annual sum? Again, you'd need to check with a lawyer as to whether such a lease is feasible. What I am suggesting is essentially the flip-side of your proposal. Instead of moving your hedge/fence within the bounds of land that you control, consider whether there may be a legal (and neighborly) means of extending your control outside the bounds of your lands. Your hedge sounds like such an integral and irreplaceable part of your garden, it seems like a shame just to give up all of time and work it has taken to get to its current state. Perhaps your neighbors will feel similarly (and perhaps they could also use some extra cash for new home improvements). Good luck, keep us posted. Kate