Well, as I mentioned before, the big tractor is back from the shop so bush hogging could commence. We have a “back corner” on our farthest field that gets very wet in the spring. We usually can’t bush hog it without getting stuck so we wait until July or later, after it’s all dried out. By that time, the weeds are waist deep - very clumpy & rough, tough job to bush hog.
I had to go to a picnic yesterday afternoon, so I asked my brother to come over and bush hog that corner - it’s a little more than I want to tangle with. He got it done, but in the process, he ran over a ground bee (yellow jacket) nest and got stung 10 times! The bees chased him about 75 yards all the way up to the front pasture fence. Fortunately, he didn’t have a bad reaction, took a Benadryl to help, and had a pretty good attitude about ‘taking the hit’ from the bees instead of me. After dark, we got some gasoline and went down to the approximate spot of the attack and despite some clumpy grass, we found the hole. The bee nest is no more. I hate to kill them, but this nest had a lot of bees in/around it & the dogs run through there, too - don’t want any more stings, human or dogs.
The sad thing about bush hogging that corner - it had a lot of Ironweed - beautiful purple blooms and the butterflies are all over it. I would take the camera and go down to get pictures and just watch them - very peaceful & I could feel stress falling off like scales. This year, we needed to get the grass cut - a couple of does that hang around the farm have fawns and we were afraid the fawns would hide in the grass and the dogs would find them - this happened year before last with a tragic result and we didn’t want a repeat.
Less dangerous, and less toxic is 1 cup of Dawn to 1 gallon of water
Pour down the hole after sundown , and the bees/wasps will sufficate as they breathe thru their exoskeleton .
Applicable in all areas, except sandy soil where you will have to increase the volume of mixture.
Ironweed is native to Georgia, and is a form of veronica which is difficult to erradicate.
It will return but I'm not sure flowering will be in time for migrating butterflies.
If you have deer in the "back forty" or 'back corner' be aware of possibilitiy of ticks as a vector for several viral diseases (ie. : Lyme Disease).
Best control is prevention : rubber bands on long pantlegs, don't wear shorts , be aware with full body check when showeing.
Pyrethrins is one of the most common chemicals found in flea and tick elimination products.
Derived from the chrysanthemum flower, pyrethrins kill fleas and ticks by attacking their nervous system.
I guess yellow jackets have their purpose, but I just can’t like them. Worst stings of my life have been from them when I was a kid.
I just haven’t been able to quit holding that grudge.LOL