A Word About Spiders

michiganspiders.blogspot.com

Let me preface this little rant by saying I don't hate spiders.  I actually kind of like them.  They're cool-looking and mostly mind their own business and eat lots and lots of pesky bugs.

In Michigan, we had lots of spiders: our two out-buildings and huge musty basement = dark-corner-loving, eight-legged-freak heaven.  Wolf spiders are the most common and bite a lot, but they're pretty harmless.  A stout heart and a quick hand are all that is needed to keep the creepy beasts at bay.

Here in North Carolina, there are lots of spiders... including the two most venomous in the United States.  Honestly, I don't worry too much; no one in the US has died from a spider bite in the last 10 years (unless from an allergic reaction to the bug).  And bites can be painful and cause damage, but it's pretty rare.

But lately, I feel like I'm under attack.  I've had spiders falling on my head while I'm in the bathroom, crawling on my computer unannounced, scurrying across my kitchen counter, and otherwise just surprising me and making me jump.  And the ones I'm talking about have all been different kinds.  I didn't recognize them - but at least that means they weren't poisonous.

But it's starting to freak me out!  Either this apartment was uninhabited longer than I thought, or the air being on has scared them out of hiding, or someone has cursed me!

I'm going to be proactive.  I'm going to vacuum the utilities closet, unscrew all the vents and vacuum them, spray the outside walkway and patio with alcohol to kill what's there, then spray every vent, door, and walkway leading into the apartment with a solution of 2% lavender oil mixed in water.  I'm going to hang lavender bunches at each point of entry.  And then I'm going to repeat the process every month from here on out!!!!

Now, if only there was such an easy solution to getting rid of the ants...

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Don't stick your toes in the holes and other lessons...

I’ve learned a few things about patio gardening, and southern gardening, that I didn’t know before.  For instance:

When you see a 8” mound of mud in the middle of your three sisters planting in your community garden plot, don’t stick your finger in it.  It’s not an anthill.  It’s a crayfish hole.  You know – the tiny lobsters with big claws? (No, the boys didn't get pinched, but someone yelled a warning at them before they could.)

It’s not a good idea to put a string between your seedling morning glories and the hummingbird feeder, led by some misconception that the birds will like the flowers and the cover.  It just turns into a trapeze for more ants than you knew were in 100 yards of you to climb up and invade the feeder.  And drop on your head while you’re drinking coffee.  

Running a hose from your kitchen sink to the patio is a much more efficient way to water your plants… but beware the tightening process.  Water is expensive in the south, and the squealing the pipes make when you’re not releasing the pressure except by leakage will have folks looking at your apartment with “Take cover!!!  It’s gonna blow!!!!” written all over their faces.  (Yes, that's my actual contraption.  A $5 connector on a $10 hose.  Totally worth it:D)

And speaking of neighbors and watering, have you ever wondered if some uptight businessman in an expensive suit three floors below you might sue because you accidently aimed a little too high when trying to water your red geraniums?  Creating a shower on the walkout three floors below?  I have.  Luckily, he ducked.  And I looked wicked contrite.  

But the learning process is paying off!  Check out today's view:

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