Oh, lordy, what have I started?? I swear, this thread is lurching off-course like Frankenstien's monster! ;) Larryw, thanks for letting me know your positive experience! I so did not mean for this to turn into a "how to keep rabbits out of my garden, I hate the little buggers" thread! Also, I can't help but feel that sometimes people don't read too closely! :) I mentioned this before, but I have a fence, the edge is buried properly. The mesh used for the fence is too large. Very small (like the size of a soda can to the size of a lady's 8 sneaker) rabbits squeeze through. They eat the veggies, notably the beans. I didn't like putting up the fence enough to want to re-fence with smaller gauge mesh. I made the fence because all the spraying, peppering, soaping needs frequent re-application. I'd rather be weeding, mulching, picking, and enjoying! There is a ton of clover in my yard. They still prefer to snip my beans if they can reach them. I live less than 4 miles from the White House- although I am free to bear arms, should I discharge one this close to this many houses, I will be locked up and unable to garden. (I don't think we have thought police yet, though, so maybe I can just decide like john suggested?) We do not have room for a dog (where's he going to roam? In the garden? No. Bad dog! Out of the Garden!)... and I have a ton of bunching onion seeds which I have no trouble sprouting. And thus, my brilliant(ish) idea!!! (Please note that all of the preceding was meant in a light, humorous tone... if I have missed the mark, I can only say that my power finally just came back on after being out for 7 hours and I'm freezing my buns off here.) Thank you, though, everyone for all of your input! Oh, and scarletdaisies- I don't know about the parasite thing, but I do know that generally speaking hunting season is only in the fall/early winter months. I thought it had more to do with letting animals have a chance to raise their young, but I don't really know. Cheers, all y'all! Sunni

Danny...Actually, before setting baits, I was spraying with vinegar. When that didn't work, I relented, bought and set out traps. When I said I spayed vinager yesterday, in the upstairs bathroom, there were no baits in the room..nowhere upstairs. I was about to wash the sink, was in a hurry, so I sprayed with vinegar to kill visible ants, then get the sink cleaned. They don't like vinegar or Comet. When I checked later and today, there were a couple dying or dead ants. I have an idea where they're coming from in the kitchen, but not 100% certain. Especially, since I found a group behind the fridge.. Lord! It's impossible to check behind the ridge since it outweighs me; I can't move it..On the other side is the cooking stove. I fear moving the stove because the gas hose is only so long.. The instructions on bait boxes said not to use insecticides/sprays while using baits. I'm not spraying w/vinegar, 'in those areas.' Spraying would defeat the purpose since the object is for the ants who eat from the baits become host poison carriers. When they go back to feed other ants, or other ants eat from they poisoned ant/s, they too die. Did you mean to close/seal an opening with chalk or caulk? Either way, I wish it were that simple. Seems they're finding openings more than one place. We live in an old, wood/aluminum sided house. In fact, it was one of the first houses built on this street..Found this info from a library book. Around WW2, a few small, brick homes were erected..And I mean tiny, for soldiers who made it back home. This house was built prior to the brick homes, so that might give you an idea how long it's been around. At one time it was well-built. A tenant who lived here before the previous owner, went, umm, balistic. He intentionally made holes in the walls, scraped original hard-wood floors. He was evicted. The last owner bought and fixed it up. He made a huge profit. He used the cheapest crap wanna-be wood he could find. There's more, but I won't get into it. Since it was freshly painted, new carpeting, not to mention 27 windows, 'plants,' a sun room, and third bedroom with 6 windows, we jumped the gun and bought it. The Freddy Kruggar furnace should have been a clue of its age. Gas converted from coal. The door on the furnace says 1902 or 1906. I'd have to check, lol. Now you know the history of our house, Bet you deemed this short story, very interesting, lol.. YAWN Another thing..it doesn't help our neighbors have their homes exterminated regulalry. I truly believe, every creature in our neighborhood, finds our house. lol. However, I'll keep an eye out where these guys go. Then figure a way to block their entrance doorway. Glass Blower..did you have anything to do with the glass pieces displayed at Garfield Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens? Does your art involve glass? Paintings, drawings, music or something entirely different? If you feel it's personal, Danny, no need to answer. Toni All I know is I can't wait until these creatures are gone.

I have to laugh at some of the posts that suggest everyone act like adults. I say this because "ultimate fighting" is fast becoming one of the most popular adult sports. Shaking your finger and telling people to grow up isn't realistic. This is a forum and everyone is entitled to express an opinion. If a poster only wants to hear a certain answer, I suggest that person state so right up front: "No opposing suggestions welcome." If a poster only wants comments from people who douse their environment in hazardous chemicals, just say so. Some of us occasionally comment so that new gardeners will know that there are other alternatives to poisonous chemicals. There are also serious consequences. So, while it may be entirely true that Karl and Michaelg are knowledgeable people, why not spend a few moments and, perhaps relay (though stories) how they used to use pesticides... This is not a moderated forum. We post as we see fit. Sometimes shortly out of frustration and anger. We do not feel the need to spin stories for anyones edification. No one was particularly rude until the op alluded to a bodily orifice. He/she/it lost a lot of respect with the vulgarity. Karl and michaelg do have a lot of knowledge. It's up to everyone reading this post to decide the advise they want to heed and the advise they want to ignore. But the fickle finger of politically correct it pointing squarely at the people who are poisoning the environment. Be prepared to take some hits when you step up and say I use insecticide and I'm proud of it.

Anna - I am glad that your garden is doing better and you are having some success, it is all good. The peas that I planted when I showed the coffee filters are up in my garden also, I have another problem with the beans and the peas, one of my little dogs is addicted to them, he can pull them and eat them when I am not looking, he is the one that likes tomatoes also. What I usually do is pick some ripe tomatoes and give him to keep him distracted from the beans. The other two dogs that I have are only interested in fruit, the little black dog goes for the blueberries, only the larger kind, she leaves the sunshine blues for me, lol. Ebackman - It is so nice to hear that you are growing lettuce successfully, consider how expensive and wilted are the ones at the store, if you sow every 2 weeks a little bit, you can have a good supply. Lettuce can be grown in different ways, any way that you prefer. Perfectly spaced in a bed or a container, just sprinkled and not thinning, use them as cut lettuce with scissors and will grow again. You can also transplant the thinnings to another place, I use a small spoon and keep it moist. You can also grow small greens for a mix in a salad, I found a spinack that I like the name is Bordeaux and has red veins, also growing a gold container chard with very tender leaves, komatsuma an oriental green is also good and mild for salad. Experiment a little to see what you and your family like, you can make some really innovative mixes that you can not even buy at the store. Silvia