Some of my annual vines have just started blooming now. My thunbergia is blooming but the vigna caracalla is not showing anything yet. After 3 years, my sweetpea vines are finally starting to look like something!!

that's great Roses!

Hi, Teri, I appreciate that update. My thunbergia did bloom quite a while ago (still going) -- and still nothing on the cardinal climber (not sure the buds I thought I saw were flower buds!)

Still hopeful.

I thought sweetpeas were annuals?

Maybe they are!! I'll have to look up what I have and find out if they've just reseeded themselves.

I think that I planted the "Miss Wilmott" SweetPeas, and yes they are annuals but they re-seed like crazy !!

That's a fine characteristic for them to have.

Yes, I love it when my annuals reseed themselves--saves me the trouble of acquiring them again!

Catmint--you are a nurse--right? I have a question....

A few days ago, something bit me on the back of my calf just under the knee.
Nothing unusual....It itched like H---..and the bite spot got bigger and bigger. Really red!
About 3 days later--I looked, and there was a clear-skinned blister over the bite mark--
about the size of a dime. Extremely thin skin on the blister...
I went to gently wipe it with a tissue--and the blister skin came right off.

Now I had a red, raw, oozing spot where I was bit. The area around the bite was also really red.
I put a Lg. fabric band aid over it and will wait to see if it starts healing...
It no longer itches...but it sure is raw.

Question: What kind of a bug would produce this kind of a bite where everything
turns red and oozes and forms a blister? I was just outside in my own garden.
It is now day #3 and it has nor healed at all. I took off the small band aid to change it
and the bite mark was still bright red and not healing at all.
I know it is a tender area--but.......it has been 4 or days now......

I guess my main question is--"What kind of a bug bite forms a blister"????

Gita

Gita ... I am not Robin, but in my experience that kind of bite came from a spider bite ... not a black widow spider. For me, I just put aloe vera on it, and left it open to the air... but I didn't have clothing rubbing on it. It healed slowly, but it healed.

It's happened more than once with no long term problems.

Gita, Yehudith is the nurse but she hasn't been able to get online recently.

Thank you all---I kind of thought that it must have been a spider too....

Maybe I should just leave it exposed to air--not under a heavy band-aid...
Will take it off for the night--OR--use a small gauze square taped to my skin.

Gita

Types of Bite Blisters

Insect Bites
People who are sensitive to insect bites can develop fluid filled blisters called bullae or circular areas filled with fluid around the bite called weals.

Spider Bites
One to two days after being bitten by a spider a pustule or blister can form on top of the area. In a small number of cases a bite from a brown recluse spider can cause swelling or blistering that leads to the development of a dark scab called an eschar that covers the blister for around a week after you have been bitten. It is important to have such bites inspected by your doctor as these ulcerated areas may continue to grow if they are not treated.

Bee Stings
Bees, hornets, wasps or yellow jackets cause a painful sting that is commonly associated with these types of reactions. Wasps, hornets or bee stings will cause swelling, redness, itching and warmth immediately after the incident. You may also experience a blister in this area

Tick Bites
Tick bites can cause a red lump to appear where you were bitten but this is not usually painful. If the bite is severe you may experience bruising, itchiness, swelling or blistering near the bite area.

Mites
Mites cause bumps to appear on the skin which may be accompanied by blistering or itchiness.

Thanks, Judy--
The bite area is now starting to dry up a bit. Still have a kind of raw, red spot .
It will go away in a day or two.

I should use some repellent sprays on my legs. I have so many,,,they just
sit around down in my laundry room.

Most of the time outside I am doing work on my patio--which is all concrete.
How I LOVE having this shaded patio! Rain or shine--and i can be out there working....

Grab Sally and come visit me sometimes! You will even get the honor of sitting in the
porch swing--the seat of honor for guests....

Just ask Holly and Ric. They LOVED my patio....(July--2013)

hi, Gita. SSG is correct--I'm not a nurse--but I hope your bites are better now.

Thank you, Robin. Yes! it is much better. Nothing "raw" any more.
Just a drying up scab. I promise NOT to pick at it.....
Gita