Remember to be safe, check your labels, and contact the manufacturer whenever you have a question.

If you’ve never seen a ground hornet nest it looks like a small hole in the ground maybe an inch to an inch and a half across, with a pile of dirt around the entrance.  They are easy to spot, if one is looking for them and not stumbling blindly around the yard like I was, due to the flurry of activity that occurs between dawn and dusk.  Get down low to the ground and look out across your lawn.  Provided the nest is more than a few dozen individuals, there will be a small cloud of hornets around the nest as they fly in and out.  This nest in particular was very active, counting over 50 hornets on the ground and in the air around the nest.

Usually I leave wasp and bees nests if they are in a location that where we will not bother one another and can live in harmony.  This was not one of those cases, however, as the nest is in a direct line from my porch stairs to the blueberry bushes, a path my youngest daughter takes when she goes to get a snack.  At two years old I can’t trust that she will remember and not wander over it accidentally.

This meant the nest had to be removed so I began searching for options of which there were many.  Some suggested one of the chemical sprays on the market, other folks suggested pouring gasoline or diesel into the nest late at night and then setting it on fire, and others still used a method of mixing boiling hot water and dish soap together to then be doused onto the nest.  This last option sounded like a nice pesticide free option and I went looking for recipes.  That lead me to this:

Don’t try this if you cannot get away quickly or get a direct shot at the nest.

Also, don’t try this on a huge colony since you won’t be able to hit all the wasps or hornets and you will be attacked by the rest. (emphasis mine)

That last part and my previous experiences with ground hornets, including getting stung over a dozen times all over my body, the chemical-light method was abandoned and a can of Ortho Home Defense Max was chosen because it created a foaming barrier to help keep the hornets in the nest as it began to work.  Late last night I doused the nest and a 10s of hornets were killed within a few moments.  As the foam dissipated other individuals tried to return to the nest and also perished.  The Ortho product was more effective than expected and was worth the $5 price tag for the ease of use and peace of mind in effectiveness.

Today I went back and checked on the nest at dawn and there was no activity of any kind and a pile of dead hornets all around the entrance.  If no more activity is seen after another investigation tonight the nest will be considered destroyed.

Though I don’t like using pesticides and other toxic chemicals due to the impact they have on beneficial wildlife in my environment, there is a balance to be struck when choosing an appropriate technology to solve a problem.  Though I used chemicals this year it serves as motivation to try to find a different solution going forward.

Be safe and enjoy your garden.

This little guy, about an inch long in real life, is a Saddleback Caterpillar.  They are of note for two reasons:

1.  They are a general feeders that will munch on a wide variety of garden plants.  In large numbers, which I’ve had this year, can defoliate a 3 year old blueberry bush in a matter of days.  On doing a garden walk two weeks ago I noticed that all four of the blueberry bushes were in various states of becoming denuded.  A cursory glance at noon didn’t reveal anything so I went ahead and started picking blueberries figuring I would find the predators in the early morning or late evening. That’s when it happened.  I got stung.

2.  The sting.  I’ve been swarmed by ground hornets on several occasions, usually because I ran over a nest with a mower, hit by bumble bees, and fallen into thistle, to name a few ways I’ve been injured by nature’s bounty, and nothing compares to the stings I received from the Saddleback Caterpillar.  I didn’t know what hit me but it hurt like the dickens.  I rushed inside to wash my hand and check the damage, thinking I disturbed a wasp.  There were three stings in total, that I could see, all clustered in the soft part of my hand between the thumb and forefinger.  The pain was like an electrical current pulsing into my hand, and yes, I’ve electrocuted myself before too.

A rash raised up across the back of my hand.  Application of ice took out the peak pain and a follow up with a topical anesthetic made it tolerable the rest of the day.  The next morning the rash and pain were gone.  Though it didn’t last long, it did incapacitate that hand while it lasted.

Control:

I have been hand picking them while wearing a heavy pair of leather gloves and then disposing of them.  This has been fairly successful with only a moderate amount of work.  Though I pulled over 40 off of the 4 bushes the first time out after discovering them, and recovered from the sting, in days since I have only picked another half dozen or so.  Manual control looks to work well, is simple, and only takes a few minutes to accomplish.

From researching it a bit, it looks like they are susceptible to BT if you choose to dust or spray with it.  Be advised, however, that BT will also kill butterflies.

However you choose to handle them, wear protective clothing and be careful.  These little guys pack a powerful punch.

http://www.tacobell.com/nutrition/allergens

Remember, however, that there is always a risk for cross contamination.  Be safe and eat well.

2 3/4c toasted coconut
4 egg whites
1c white sugar
1t ground cinnamon
1/2t almond extract

1,  Toast coconut for 5 to 7 minutes on a cookie sheet in a 350 degree oven.
2.  Lower the oven temperature to 250 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
3.  In a large bowl whip the egg whites until they for soft peaks.
4.  At low speed,  gradually add the sugar, cinnamon, and extract to the egg whites.
5.  Fold in the coconut by hand.
6.  Drop by the tablespoonful onto the parchment, spacing 2 inches apart.
7.  Bake until dry and able to peel off easily, about 20-25 minutes.
8. Move to a cooling rack and allow to cool before eating.

http://www.liveglutenfreely.com

With a full list of the products here:

http://www.liveglutenfreely.com/products/default.aspx?WT.ac=HomeTab_Products_GetList

From what I saw of the list the most exciting item is going to be the Gluten Free Bisquik.  This was a go to item for quick wholesome meals and has been sorely missed as part of our pantry.  Once we find it in a local store I will post a review for you.

For anyone who has never had a fresh blueberry, straight from the bush, still warm from the summer sun, no commercially bought blueberries, however grown, harvested, or selected, can compare to it.  Sweet flesh followed by a slight sour pucker from the skin, this is what nature intended for us to enjoy.

If you are looking for an easy to grow perennial give blueberries a try.  The effort has been worthwhile in my garden.  So long as the netting stays in place and the birds are kept away, I am expecting to harvest several quarts this year.  With even more in the future as then go from their current 2′ tall to upwards of 6′ or more.  I do recommend spending a little more money on more mature plants so you can enjoy a harvest your first year and not have to fret over whether or not they will survive.  Our 4 plants ranged from $20-25 a piece but they are 3 years old and come with a 1 year guarantee from a local nursery.

The next day, earlier in the morning than I expected, I received a call back.  What sweet words they were to hear that they use modified cornstarch and those of us with gluten issues are safe to eat it.  The representative also followed up by saying that they use cornstarch in all of their products and at the moment all are gluten free.  When asked when they would update their labeling to say so, she didn’t know but wished they would do so soon.

Another mysterious modified foodstarch mystery solved.  Enjoy Sweet Baby Ray’s products with your next cookout.

You can check it for yourself on their FAQ:

http://www.berksfoods.com/Faq.aspx

Made by the Goddess Cookie Company and baker Caryn Sheckler, they are made with only the finest ingredients, with no junk or fillers.  They are free of a number of common allergens including peanuts, oats, wheat, dairy, casein, soy, and trans-fats.  They are, however, almond based, so if you have a nut allergy they should be avoided.  For those of us without one, the almonds give a wonderful texture with a thick outer crust surrounding a moist chewy center.  If the label had not listed almonds as the main ingredient I would have had no reason to suspect it.

In the case of Kali, she had a hearty ginger taste with chunks of ginger.  This is what we should expect from every gingersnap.  It is rich, mouth filling, with a spicy warm taste that lingers comfortably long after every bite.

Besides Kali, there is also Venus (Double Chocolate), Freya (Currants and Spices), Tara (Coconut), and Arasy (Apricot and Cinnamon).  And, for those Vegans out there, Kali, Freya, Tara, and Arasy are all safe.

In the end, the pack of cookies I bought never made it home.  Instead, I ate them on the ride back. As for Mister Ed’s pronouncement, I agree:  They were the best gluten free cookies I’ve had so far.