A Garden! That's right!

On Friday morning, after we had run a bunch of errands, I had a random, wild thought while driving past the Lowe’s hardware. Why don’t we plant a garden?

Oh sure, why not? :)

Sure, I’ve never been able to get anything to grow, ever. But these new plants might not know that, AND we’ll get sprouted plants so they have a fighting chance. :)

So we stopped in at Lowe’s and bought some garden soil, and about 15 plants to put in our dirt.

I don’t have a huge backyard - far from it, and it gets quite a bit of shade, so I chose the sunniest spot back by the sandbox, and the kids and I spent the early afternoon digging holes, mixing in garden soil, and planting our tomatoes and herbs (thyme, oregano, cilantro, basil, parsley, and bee balm). And by “the kids and I”, I mean I). It was hot and sweaty, but I felt pretty darned good. :) And they look so pretty! And it’s not cheating to plant plants that are already plants, is it? I just figure this is probably the best way to keep something alive. :)

I know nothing about gardening whatsoever. So I don’t even know where this idea even came from. But I do know that impatience for plants has paid off - we actually had some of our fresh basil leaves in our dinner last night. Delish!

Ele and I went out yesterday and watered the new plants - this was his favorite part, and he did great, for about 10 minutes.

Then he got distracted:

And even more distracted:

Then he remembered I was sitting on the back steps watching him, and he started to get funny ideas…

That’s when I ran for it.

Good times. :)

I don’t think I’ve mentioned that I have a super-power also? I happen to be a Mosquito Magnet. Jared is almost completely unaffected by mosquitos, but if I step ONE FOOT outside the door, I am covered in bites. In the extra time I’ve been spending outside this weekend, Super Hero Mosquito Magnet is now sporting like 40 bites from head to toe. Itchy. But many mosquitos are laying around my backyard all fat and happy tonight. That has to count for something.

Have you found a really good, reliable mosquito remedy for outdoors? I’d love to hear it.

Comments

[Katie N.]

I need to find a mosquito trick as well - they love my son! Last year he went on a river trip and several people with him got a few bites. He had over 100!

Wish I had the answer.

[Lee]

Congratulations on the garden! It's not cheating to start with bedding plants!

As for mosquitoes, do be careful. Here in New England we worry about mosquito borne illnesses.

"Off" products and "Cutter" products work well. Citronella is popular, but I don't think it's that effective. But the most effective ones contain DEET. You'll have to look at what amount of DEET is safe to use on kids,

Off has just come out with a clip on fan gizmo. Not sure if it's DEET or citronella.
http://www.offprotects.com/default.aspx

When I garden I wear clothes specific to the task and spray the clothes with the Off. That way I get protection, but less exposure to chemicals on my skin.

Good luck with it all!
;o)
- Lee

[OR Carol]

LOVE the picture story! I just giggled at that sweet Eli face. I love your garden too. He had such fun. Ask Dean about our mosquito machine. It really works.

[Kimberly]

The best I have ever used has been Skin So Soft by Avon. I keep bottles of it for our family. It is great on camping trips and when we go to Cumberland Island as well. Nothing has ever come close to it for us. Plus, they have the spray bottles as well. Good luck with the bites.

[Cheri]

Our family joke is that my dad only got biltten by mosquitos if my mom or i was not outside. I get big quarter -sized bites if I am outside, so i guess i share your super power. I have heard bullfrog sunscreen works well to repell mosquitos, you might want to try it.

[Stephanie]

My son and I both attract mosquitoes like crazy, too! Here in Houston, we put a couple dryer sheets in our pockets and that USUALLY keeps them away. :)

[OR Carol]

Also, there is a clear Benadryl gel to put on the bites to stop the itching. I always keep a bottle on hand in the summer.

[suzanne]

When my son was little he was a mosquito magnet, and they'd turn into humongous scary looking welts. I'm not sure where my husband picked it up, but he started putting dabs of vanilla extract behind Joe's ears, and if I recall correctly, it did help. The nice part was that vanilla smells a lot better than the other mosquito repellants...

[Cindy]

Avon's Skin So Soft sometimes works. Deep Woods Off also works well.

[Terebene]

Check out the Buzz Off line of clothes that have repellent built right in. You can sometimes find them at Sierra Trading Post on clearance. For repellents - Deet is still the standard for adults but I put picaridin on my kiddo - less toxic and still CDC sanctioned as effective. And it doesn't smell!

If it makes you feel any better - I never get bit in Colorado but my husband is a magnet here. When we lived in Maryland, it was the opposite! It must be region-specific. Maybe you just need a vacation out west.

[Cilenia]

The Avon Skin so Soft does work great... but being an herbalist and gardener myself, I like to go the natural route.
Plant citrus smelling plants around your area. I like to plant Lemon Balm close by and brush it as I walk by to fill the area with the lemon scent... mosquitoes hate the smell and it works so much better than the candles. I also plant lemon thyme on walking paths and between my walking stones. There is also a geranium with this scent and they reside in pots around the patio.

If you're going to start gardening, these are the first to go in at my house :) I must share your sweet blood, cause they just love me too. Good luck in your new adventure, but be warned... once you have the awesome flavor of the fresh herbs, you will never by store bought again. :)

[Momo]

Don't wear anything scented - soaps, perfumes, hair products....even fabric softener can attract them. And get Deep Woods Off for when you do! Ticks and mosquitos can carry diseases you really don't want. Malaria is increasing in Florida, and ticks carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease. Into the bathtub afterward to wash off the Off......

[mary]

that's what I love about young children. . . .they are in their own world and the magic that gets in their eyes. . . . .somehow we lose part of that as we grow older.

delightful photos of ele with the hose!!!!!

[Amy N.]

way to go on the garden! i hope it does well for you. love the photos of your little guy. it can be mighty dangerous when you give a boy (of any age really) a water hose. :)

[tchrtiff]

Love the photos of your son "helping" you water the new garden. How amazing...I have the same super power as you! My mosquito bites turn into huge red welts. You should have seen me on my honeymoon, not a pretty sight! Good luck with the garden!

[Sharon M. from Texas]

I am from the Houston area, also. Though, we live closer to the water. I read in one of my health magazines that vitamin B repels mosquitoes, and it recommended taking a complex B supplement for the "mosquito months". I have been taking a supplement about 4 nights a week for a few weeks now. I went out to take the trash out this morning, and I heard those darn mosquitoes buzzing...but not ONE bite! There might be something to this...

[Joan]

I just read this somewhere and can't for the life of me remember, (short term memory) but they said to spray Listerine around where you are sitting. I know sounds crazy but hey its worth a try plus you will smell minty fresh.

[ShawninAZ]

I recently read a story about the Listerine too. It sounded like it really works. Since there aren't too many mosquitoes here in PHX I haven't had a chance to try it.

[Terri Porter]

Yep, I've heard great things about Llisterine as well. I am also a mosquito magnet -- if there's one within 100 miles, it will find me. Get the welts as well, so I really try to avoid getting bitten. I'm in Phoenix also, so our dry climate protects us most of the time. Will be spending a few days in Minnesota next weekend and that is where I got t he worst mosquito bites of my life, so I'm going armed with a big bottle of Listerine! And maybe some Off as well just to be safe.

[MARIA M.]

I've heard planting marigolds helps keep mosquitoes away. They'll look nice even if it doesn't work.

[Michelle]

Perhaps just run from the females? Sorry that is totally useless, but this is the post I *just* did tonight before I read your blog, and now I am laughing.
http://ourhereandnow.blogspot.com/2009/06/hes-8-and-smarter-than-me.html

[Verbena]

Skin So Soft works great for keeping them away - been using it for years!

[Kelleigh]

Congrats on putting in your veggie garden! You are going to LOVE being able to just harvest your own herbs. I've trained my oldest to go cut them for me while I am cooking. So handy.

Psst . . . your tomato cages are upside down! Unless, of course, I'm totally clueless and this is the new style and you are just the ultra-hip tomato mama.

[Veronica]

Yes, I'm a firm believer in Avon's Skin so Soft as a repellant! Keeps your skin moist too! Living in the south and playing softball, it has always helped. My grandmother kept Dr. Tichenor's on hand and would soak a cotton ball and place on our bites to take the itch away! Smells nice too! Basil keeps flies away!!!!

[Kay]

We have been using "Bug Band" for a couple of years. Despite the name, it comes in a spray, a bracelet, and towelettes. I believe it is Deet-free. It's made from that geranium plant that has a scent that repels mosquitoes. It's only available in one store here in my town. It's especially good at repelling those tiny gnats that bite and leave big welts.

[Betsy]

Jessica

For your backyard, I highly recommend the Mosquito Magnet. It runs about $250, but we've had ours for around 10 years now and it's still kicking. It runs off of propane and octenol, so it costs an additional $25 a month to use it, but it will rid your backyard of mosquitos. I can see from your pictures that you have a fence, so it will only work in your backyard. It emits a warmth and smell like humans (the octenol) which attracts the mosquitos, they get sucked in, and they dehydrate. We got ours at Ace Hardware, but you can get it on Amazon.com.

Betsy

[Mickee]

Hi Jessica, I used L`Occitane - Lavender Mosquito Repellent Towelettes for my kids who are also mosquito magnets. It was recommended by a friend who was recommended to her by her friend, and the list goes on and on. It's effective with a pleasing smell (so unlike other mosquito repellent I've used).

[LivE]

ha!!! go for it, ele! aim that hose-gun at mama! heehee! love it! too funny, jes!

and wow, you had the basil for dinner already? i am so proud of you and your new garden!

cilantro candles? mosquito-repellant patches that you stick to your clothes? threatening to kill the buggers if they bite you one more time? :D

[Dena]

Jessica
I have the perfect mosquito remedy for you. It has already been tested. Last week my husband and I were making a garden for the birds and both of us were getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. We had heard to use bounce drier sheets. I ran to the laundry room and grabbed one for each of us. We put it through our belt loops on our shorts and it kept the mosquitoes away. Even the swarms of mosquitoes left. Give it a try and see what you think. It worked great for us.
Good Luck, Dena

[Janna]

I also have the same super power. I use Off, and it works pretty well.

Ask your doctor to prescribe you a tube of triamcinolone 0.025% cream. It is prescription strength and prescribed for itchy allergic type rashes and eczema. But if you put a very tiny amount on a mosquito bite as soon as you get the bite, it will not itch and will disappear. Really. If you wait more than a little while after you get the bites, it will help, but they may not completely disappear. One large tube will last you like 3 years. Unless you get 40 bites every day.