I DESPISE squash bugs! But, since I don't want to kill pollinators or other beneficial insects, I have used companion planting, DE, soap sprays to control them. I also gather tips from fellow gardeners - LOVE the duct tape idea for the eggs, Gumby! One thing that works to keep the squash bugs from my cucumbers is planting them among tansy. It has worked for me every year, though I have had problems in another area of the garden with my squash and melons. Someone suggested to avoid using mulch for my squash, and that is what I will do this year, since the cukes get no mulch either - must be a connection. Row cover is another good tip, but I have not yet tried this. I would encourage you to try and avoid using pesticides, as the jury's still out on the connection betweeen their use and the problems with bee colony collapse. Depends on what study you read, and who put it out there, but my bet is that pesticide use cannot be ruled out as at least part of the cause.

This is AMAZING!!!!! I am extremely impressed and DH should be, too!! Gosh, it gets hot enough to sleep outside? I think I miss those days. Though I think this isn't where you'll be making stuff anymore!! LOL You've really gussied it up and found wonderful bargains to pretty-ize it. Fantastic job!!

yikes, i soooo hate these things. they do jump AT you too, really daunting if you are like me and don't like spiders, as they do look like them. Our house sat empty for two years before we bought it, and these things had moved in...almost moved when i saw the first one...LOL. they got ran out of the house, but still like the detached garage. after almost nine years here, I've finally gotten to where I can go out there and not jump when I see them. My neighbors however were not happy that we ran them out of the house...LOL, they started heading back to their homes, they thought they had gotten rid of them. yes, ugly little critters aren't they? It is however, funny to watch when the cats spy one that sneaks in. they do make short work of them, however, they don't clean up after they get done playing. yuck. mine don't look quite like that picture, much more hairy. more spider than cricket looking. sally

Wow, I haven't seen a Hickory Horned Devil since I left Indiana - we don't have them in MN, at least in the Twin Cities, and I don't recall ever seeing either the Regal moth (Citheronia regalis) or the caterpillar in FL. Really nice picture! Tucker