PERSONAL INSECT REPELLENT: 400ml almond oil large handful crushed lavender flowers 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar Put all ingredients into a screw-top jar and shake vigorously. Leave on a sunny windowsill for about 2 weeks, shaking the jar every day. Rub onto skin with cottonwool. OR Pour 1 litre boiling water over a handful of sage sprigs and 3 mint sprigs. Allow to cool. Strain out the herbs, add 1 litre rubbing alcohol. Splash or spray onto hair, skin and clothing. Repeat after swimming or if perspiring heavily. A lot of herbs and kitchen items will soothe insect bites, including lemon balm, calendula petals, a used tea bag, the inside of a banana skin, lavender oil, cider vinegar, a paste of bicarbonate of soda, aloe vera gel, celery juice, parsley, raw potato to name a few. Chickweed is very effective, but don't what you have in the garden (and certainly don't eat it!) unless you are 110% it is chickweed. I do not know of any adverse reactions from chickweed, but individuals react to different things in any ways, so be aware, as you would be with any herb. Chickweed is a very useful herb, but I don't advise giving medicinal doses of it to a child, though a small amount tossed into a salad won't hurt.

Thank you all for your advice (sorry for the late thank-you -- have been having intermittent computer problems). I wish the prevention part were that easy -- we live in Va. Beach and our property is on the Lynnhaven River -- fairly brackish shallow muddy and probably mosquito nirvana. Our property has a "dog leg" strip that goes down to the water, but we haven't cleared it yet (and legally I'm not sure how we'll wind up doing that -- harsh restrictions because they're trying to revive historical oyster beds). That area is full of marsh grasses, poison ivy and lots of muddy puddle areas. The perimeter of the rest of our rectangular lot is fairly heavily covered in trees, azaleas, ivy, etc. -- lots of hiding places. We're working to clear it somewhat (replacing ivy with mulch) but I also am torn -- I like providing habitat for wildlife (and we have plenty!). I think the biggest problem are the Asian tiger mosquitoes. They're out all day and are so small and fast -- and from what I've read can breed in 1/4" of water very quickly. We purchased one of those pheromone/CO2 traps (is supposed to lure them in where they're fanned into a tray of soapy water) and caught lots of moths. I called the manufacturer in New Zealand and was told that "oh -- they'll work on pretty much all mosquitoes except Asian tiger mosquitoes." We've also got what I'd consider a healthy predatory population -- tons of skinks, snakes, frogs, every bug imaginable (some have got to be predatory, right?) -- I know we've got wheel bugs because I accidentally killed a nymph yesterday before I realized it wasn't a squash bug nymph (similar body shape; wrong color...). Spiders everywhere. We live on a secluded private lane and I've never noticed the city spraying back here. But,.... we're getting eaten alive. Even my husband and kids are getting bitten this year, which is rare. Contrary to what I've heard on the news from "studies" I would disagree that concentrations above 15-20% deet are no more effective than the lower ones. If I wear the "regular" lower concentrations I might as well wear "here's dinner" signs. When I wear the 10-hour yucky oily stuff that's 95% deet it works like a charm. It's horrible, and who knows what it's doing to me, but at least I can step outside and check the garden. But, I did get in my shipment of essential oils -- I just still don't know how to mix the concoctions -- I've read the recipes posted but don't know what the base is. I'm even growing lots of catnip -- I don't yet have enough to take handfuls of the stuff and rub it on myself, but I'm working on it! So thanks again -- and I'll still welcome any recipes! mcaren

Thanks for posting! DH will be interested in these...

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."