Tag Archives: insects

Spider Watching – Vivian French

I do not like spiders. They give me the creepy crawlies, the heebie-jeebies – you name it, they give it to me. However, there are some people who like them, and guess what – my daughter is one of them. She finds insects fascinating. She catches moths and releases them outside, rather than see them be killed. For children like her, I’m reviewing “Spider Watching,” by Vivian French. If this was a Tristi Pinkston book, it would be called, “Spider Squashing.” This picture book is set up in an interesting format. On the right page is a story, and on … Continue reading →

A “Green” Way To Get Rid Of Garden Pests

It was a balmy 73 degrees today. (Seventy-three degrees in March in Wisconsin—that’s something to brag about.) Our family took advantage of the beautiful weather by visiting a local wildlife sanctuary. After I got a good look at the critters there I came home and surveyed our yard and garden. Lo and behold, not five minutes into my inspection, a big fat fly landed on my arm. (Ah, the welcoming committee doesn’t miss a beat.) With the spring thaw in progress it won’t be long before I am battling bugs and other garden-loving pests. In previous blogs I’ve written about … Continue reading →

Making Your Home A Bug-Free Zone

Winter has arrived early here in the Midwest. We’ve had a string of below normal days (we trick-or-treated with wind chills in the teens) and I’ve hated every minute of it. (No matter how many years I reside here, I don’t know that I will ever get used to living in these conditions.) In any event, if there is an upside to living in “the frozen tundra” it is the fact that Mother Nature’s freeze-fest has all but eliminated the insects in our home (save for a few hearty spiders). While it may seem that nature is “bug-proofing” our home, … Continue reading →

Window Screens

Now that the weather is growing milder, you may be ready to turn off the air conditioner and open up the windows. It’s great to open up the whole house and let the fresh air in. However, you may still have to worry about insects and pests, so make sure your screens are in good shape. If any need repairs, take care of it right away. In some cases, you may be able to do minor repairs yourself. You may be able to secure a loose corner with metal tape (used in heating and air), so check your hardware store … Continue reading →

“Buzz Off”–A New Way to Ward Off Bugs

It’s the hottest trend in outdoor gear. No, not the “Throw-and-Go” Pup Tent or gourmet MRE’s (Meals Ready To Eat). I’m talking about bug-repellent clothes… and you don’t have to be an avid hiker, fly-fisherman, or bird watcher to appreciate them. We all know that mosquitoes can turn a lovely evening stroll into a running disaster… or, a summer barbeque into a bug buffet. To avoid this from happening many of us douse our children (and ourselves) with insect repellent. But, could the familiar spray soon be a thing of the past? A company that specializes in outdoor apparel seems … Continue reading →

Breakfast and Butterflies

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About a year or two ago, friends of ours gave us a “butterfly kit” from insectlore.com. it’s a remarkable thing: they send you a net and a jar with four to six caterpillars and food. When the caterpillars begin to make their chrysalides, you put them in the net so that they can hang from atop the net. Then one day, POP! Butterflies! We bought a new set of caterpillars this year and both our girls studied them intensely. They were excited even just to see them moving in the food jar! As the chrysalides formed we decided to bring … Continue reading →