What an interesting looking creature.

Did you see the pic of the face?! Kind of scary looking!

Marilyn, you are too funny. But I agree.

I bought a couple cocoons to combat the evil leaf hoppers and aphids that have grown to ridiculous numbers due to past pest spraying by the condo board. The new board decided, at random, to have the entire area sprayed with pesticide. I never saw any of them so I assume they were all killed off.

This year I will have a discussion with the new condo president about this come spring. I'm going to ask for permission to buy up cocoons and ladybugs. I want to try them instead of spraying.

Good for you, tiki. I hope you are successful!

Geez, I hate to hear of that kind of wholesale spraying. The board should make it up to you by paying to have a BBB garden planted, dagnabit!

Many of you know that dh & I are renting a place here until we can get a house built. This is a 55 plus community on small lots. These people are NUTS! about having their yards sprayed every single month! The place we rent doesn't get the yard sprayed but it doesn't need to ---- the spray from the adjoining yards blows over into this one!
BUT, the owner has this place done once every 3 months with some kind of granular stuff all around the house & out for 3 feet. The first time it was done ---- the very next day my dog got a terrible contact dermatitis which made her itch, scratch & chew hair off for the next 3 months.
I put a stop to that poisoning the next time the pest control guy came! I told him in no uncertain terms NOT to do it! And he didn't. And he won't!

BTW, since being here we have not seen ONE SINGLE SOLITARY lizard. Not one! Gee, I wonder why? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..........

Ugh. Poor pup.

I showed the bug guy -- a young upstart --- the dermatitis on her & the bare spots & he said, "It looks like hot spots to me". DUUUUUUUHHHHH!!!!

And then he tried to tell me that the POISON his company uses wouldn't do that to her! Yeh, sure, the stuff will kill bugs for 3 solid months but it won't harm anything else right? Sheesh! People will believe anything these days.

Ask him to spray his dog... no, better not. He probably would.

Sad but true.

Ann,

Have you told the owner of the house/yard?

How is your dog now? Poor baby!

Well you see Marilyn it gets a little complicated. She lives in Minn., has an agent handle the house here. HE didn't know about the pest control -- lease we signed says we were responsible for our own pest control so imagine my surprise when the pest showed up one day. Agent also didn't know about the sewer nor that it cost $44 mo. even if no one is occupying house & no usage takes place but the owner is paying that because I haven't gotten a bill & I'm NOT paying it. He also didn't know Satellite TV was hooked up a month before we moved in & if they disconnect they get a big penalty for early disconnect --- so we're getting that benefit. In other words --- it's all screwed up like most rentals. That's why I hate renting. I CAN get in touch with owner directly if it becomes imperative but I've taken care of the PEST guy & he isn't going to cross me so I'm just going to let sleeping dogs lay.

Pearly girly is just fine now. Thanks for asking. Her hair is growing back fine & she has no more itchies. YAY!!!!!!

Big Pearly hugs and belly scritches!

Completely off topic and such, but wanna see how *not* to get dogs adopted?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?f...

Okay, back to the birds and beeze!

They need a wee bit of training she says.... I'm in stitches!

Thanks Sheryl. Nothing like starting the day with a laugh.

Walking sticks. I saw one once, long long ago. I wonder if the mantis ate it?
I'm glad they just eat leaves :o)

Ann,
You live in one of those horrible places. Some people like it. be glad you get to move out! I hope your poor dog healed fast

Sheryl,
''Ask him to spray his dog... no, better not. He probably would." You are so right!

I am still laughing over the Youtube!! That was perfect, and the ladies made it even funnier!