Garden Plants as Natural Pesticides

The following plants act as natural pesticides:

Ants - mint, pansy, pennyroyal
Aphids - mint, garlic, chives, coriander, anise
Bean Leaf Beetle - potato, onion,turnip
Codling Moth - common oleander
Colorado Potato Bug - green beans, coriander, nasturtium
Cucumber Beetle - radish, pansy
Flea Beetle - garlic, onion, mint
Imported Cabbage Worm - mint, sage, rosemary, hyssop
Japanese Beetle - garlic, larkspur, tansy, rue, geranium
Leaf Hopper - geranium, petunia
Mice - onion
Root Knot Nematodes - French marigolds
Slugs prostrate - rosemary, wormwood
Spider Mites - garlic, cloves, chives
Squash Bug - radish, marigolds
Stink Bug - radish
Thrips - marigolds
Whitefly - marigolds, nasturtium

Economical and Green Father's Day Gift

What to get dad for Father's day? Another tie he won't wear? A desktop pool table set? Here is an idea that would work with families with young children.
1. Take your kids on a nature walk-to give Dad some down time. Bring a bucket on your walk and collect rocks large and small. Don't pick too many rocks because you will have to carry them.
2. Wash off the rocks and let them air dry
3. Collect all of the old and broken crayons you have lying around the house. The more colors the better.
4. Place your rock on a cookie sheet covered with foil. Place the cookie sheet in your oven at 200 degrees. Leave them in there for 2 hours.
5. Remove the cookie sheet and place your rocks into a table covered with newspaper. Be careful the rocks are hot!!
6. Have your kids take the crayons and go over the surface of the rocks. The wax will melt and become one with the rocks. Kids can be creative and make patterns or pictures.
Depending on the size, the rocks can be used in the garden or as paperweights. They look great and last forever!! This is a economical green Father's day gift. Try it. Send us your pix.