Bees, Yellowjackets, Wasps : How to Identify These Creatures of the Earth and Air

 Here is a photo of a creature who seems to like my home. The guy meets the description of a jellow jacket. According to a website about these insects, The Bee Hunter only tries to save honey bees. So, what to do with yellow jackets?

Consider reading:

About Yellow Jackets and the Benefits of Wasps in the Garden. By Barbara Pleasant. March 18, 2013.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/benefits-of-wasps-yellow-jackets-zw0z1303zkin.aspx#axzz2UQzjysnA
"Yellow jackets wasps feed their young liquefied insects, with caterpillars, flies and spiders comprising the largest food groups in the yellow jacket diet during most of the summer."

Wasps and Yellow Jackets. By Jeff Schalau, County Director, Associate Agents, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arizona Cooperative Extension.
June 21, 2006.
This article includes advice on a homemade trap to use for outdoor picnics.
"Wasps and yellow jackets are beneficial insects. They feed their young on insects that would otherwise damage crops and ornamental plants in your garden...these insects should be respected and tolerated under most conditions."

Since the yellow jacket in the doorway appears to be a solitary insect, I'll see how it goes, and perhaps remove it some cool evening.

We can try to live with these insects. One piece of advice is to let the yellow jackets have access to the garden and yard during the hottest part of the day, when they like to be out. Since I personally have never liked gardening during the hottest part of the day, this gives me a reason to stay in cool shade and help Mother Nature's creatures go about their important business.

Also, we can remember that these insects will sting us if they are disturbed, so we can all exercise caution.



Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/benefits-of-wasps-yellow-jackets-zw0z1303zkin.aspx#ixzz2UR0pj9bv

References

About Yellow Jackets and the Benefits of Wasps in the Garden. By Barbara Pleasant. March 18, 2013.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/benefits-of-wasps-yellow-jackets-zw0z1303zkin.aspx#axzz2UQzjysnA

I.D. Your Bee. By The Bee Hunter. Referenced May 26, 2013.
http://www.thebeehunter.com/types-of-bees.html

How To Trim Hawthorn Buds and Leaves : Lore of the Hawthorne Tree

 

Hawthorn trees are legendary for their help with human hearts. Here are some legendary guidelines to collecting buds and leaves.

According to Wikimedia Commons, the Hawthorn trees have a history of lore. It's considered unlucky to trim the tree except when it's in bloom.

http://www.naturalremedies.org/hawthorn-herb/

Processing the herb is unnecessary, although it is almost always dried, crushed and turned into powder form. However, it is perfectly effective to simply chew the leaves and buds raw and straight from the tree...The plant’s berries can be eaten straight from the tree as well once they are ripe. The ripest berries are dark red and nearly black

References

Dave's Garden
I have been told there were three sacred trees in Ireland and in Wales: the Oak, the Ash, and the Hawthorn, but the hawthorn was favored more than all others.  Read more: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1087/#ixzz2UKaePjz2
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1087/

"In Irish folklore the Hawthorn is sometimes referred to as the fairy bush, due to the belief that fairy spirits inhabit the tree as guardians...it has always been considered bad luck to cut or damage the tree in fear of offending them.  However after due regard to the guardian spirit, the collecting of sprigs and flowers ...was allowed...
http://www.controverscial.com/Hawthorn.htm

Springtime Gifs

Blog for Untrained Housewife

Untrained Housewife offers the writing and editorial skills of Angela England.
She and other writers provide tons of information related to our homes.
There are plenty of articles about topics such as family, gardens, animals, and health.
Her focus on country living in urban and suburban areas covers many ways of living as if we are in the county.
http://www.untrainedhousewife.com/embrace-the-journey

Christmas and Fortune Telling : A Holiday Tradition

During Christmas time in the past, people found books, activities, and games to pass the long winter evenings. One Christmas tradition is fortune-telling. Here are some fine art works that illustrate the arts of fortune telling during the holiday season.
Wishing You a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! The Merry Rose.

The Christmas Divination Painting by Simon Kozhin.
Oil on Canvas. Foundation "Cultural Heritage." St. Petersburg.

Fortune Telling at Twelve Days of Christmas .
Painting by Mykola Pymonenko-Vorozhinnia (1862 to 1912).

Kids Activities: Making Salt Dough

For kids who want some easy and inexpensive activities, consider making salt dough.

Materials:
Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
Greased cookie sheets.
Cookie cooling racks.
Food coloring.
Cookie cutters, clean tin cans, cookie presses, other presses or cut out tools.
Flour: 4 cups
Salt: 1 cup
Hot Water: 1.5 cups
Vegetable Oil: 1 tsp.
Rolling pin (optional)
Wooden cutting board (optional)
Ribbon or decorative string.


Mix the flour and salt, then water.
When dough is elastic, add oil.
If you want, add food coloring to the dough.
Press the dough flat on the counter or cutting board.
Or, Roll out the dough with a rolling pin.
Cut out shapes with cookie cutters, spoons, clean tin cans, or other decorating tools.
To hang the finished product on a Christmas tree or other holiday decoration, make a small hole near the top of the cut-out dough.
Bake the cut-out dough at 200 degrees for about 30 minutes.
Remove and place on cookie cooling racks.
You can paint these. You can also cover with varnish when finished.
Thread ribbon or decorative string through the hole to tie onto Christmas trees or other holiday decorations.

References

For the recipe on this webpage:
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/yulecrafts/r/Salt_Dough_Orna.htm

For other salt dough recipes and great ideas for decorating:
http://www.theimaginationtree.com/p/play-dough-salt-dough.html

Christmas Windows

 

 

Christmas windows help spread Christmas spirit and cheer.
Simple designs grow from a strand of white lights and an old window kept for its beauty.