September 14, 2019 · 1:33 pm
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The Ant Assassin Strikes Again!

This is an old picture of one of the raised beds in our square foot garden. We don’t have the shade fabric over the top anymore and the beds are looking nice and clean in this picture. REALITY Is lot of old plants that have given up the ghost in the relentless sunshine and weeds all over the place.  :0/

I went – ARMED – carrying the 2-gallon sprayer filled with EIGHT bug killer that will kill the bugs, but not harm plants, animals, or people.

I pulled out a bunch of the plants, then quit when I got overheated. I went out again, prepared to pull out the remaining two large plants. I pulled out one and was IMMEDIATELY attacked with a SWARM of fire ants overflowing out of the box. I brushed them off my arms as soon as possible, then grabbed the sprayer and hosed everything down, assassinating as many of them as possible. I then came in the house, washed off my arms, took two Benedryl tablets and then put Benedryl ointment on both arms where they were still stinging.

I’m HOPING that I have now gotten being attacked by fire ants and the treatment of it down to a science now. My arms are still stinging, but I only have a couple of welts. (My whole arms would have swelled previously.)

I’ll rest a bit, then go out again, hose down the box again, and see if I can finish clearing that box out.

I remain open to lists of what good things fire ants do – and why I shouldn’t murder them – but have to tell you it’ll be a hard sell.

11 Comments

Filed under Gardening, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds

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11 responses to “The Ant Assassin Strikes Again!”

  1. IreneDesign2011's avatar IreneDesign2011
    September 14, 2019 at 2:06 pm

    I believe you Linda, they sound horrible.
    You can expect to feel very tired, when you are hit by allergy, in this case from the stings. Even we use allergy medication, the body needs more rest than usually for a day or two. Wish you will feel better soon.

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  2. Robin at Haphazard Homemaker's avatar Robin at Haphazard Homemaker
    September 14, 2019 at 7:45 pm

    I can’t imagine having to live with fire ants int the yard and garden. Good thing you know what to do.

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  3. shawnthompsonart's avatar shawnthompsonart
    September 17, 2019 at 9:18 pm

    Oh, I never really told you about our Garden. We got several tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes, around 5 Cucumbers, and 1 Green Pepper, it was a very small patch of vegetables but we did get a little bit out of it at least.

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    • Linda Lewis's avatar Linda Lewis
      September 17, 2019 at 9:31 pm

      That’s a good start, Shawn. I think it’s pure luck each year what you get. There are SO many variables. What works one year is a bust the next. I’m happy for every tomato, or whatever I get each season. I hope you’ll keep trying to grow something each season. This was the first year I’ve had anything to share with friends. I was so excited!

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