In my experience, widow webs are always very close to the ground and somewhat hidden or covered, in a pot, under a stone, etc. They are small, messy and have very strong silk.
So, after this discussion, will I be wearing shoes and gloves in the garden today? probably not, LOL
Who was talking about the Amish farmers not wearing shoes? I can kind of see that. Then again, when you're around big farm animals? yikes!!

We recently watched a nice little documentary about horses, about a British man who bought a couple draft horses and had them trained.

To brew beer?

Actually, the man visited a vineyard that uses horse drawn equipment to cultivate and pull the wagons for gathering etc

Let me IN I say!

It has not rained in so long...that last night's storm confused this wee thing. Thought it was a tsunami.

They are so happy it rained! Dry as dust. Usually it is mama and the twins at 8:15 am accompanied sometimes by another doe and her fawn..but this time a buck joined the party.

I have never seen Black Widows in my garden, although they must be there. Slugs hang out around and under my black seed trays.

I'm glad you weren't bitten, Greenthumb!

Speaking of being bitten, I got my very first wasp sting a few days ago. I totally panicked, not knowing if I was allergic to wasp stings and how soon the allergies would kick in. Asked our neighbor for help. She put some lotion on me. The swelling lasted for a couple of hours, and that was the end of the drama.

Have never seen Black Widows in my garden, and am not looking forward to seeing one.

Once I thought I'd prank a bumble bee and pinched shut a hollyhock flower with one inside....stung me through the petal. Another time I picked up a pretty velvet ant and learned that they are a wingless type of wasp. Been stung very few times since childhood.

That bee story is too hilarious, David!

Can't say I saw the humor at the time.

The only black widow ..well two..I saw in these 16 years at this house were in the crawl space and inside the newspaper box. I opened up the news and it was there right on the front page. Don't know if it was in the box the newpaper gets delivered to or if it was delivered with the actual newspaper delivery. The box is open at one end and so the paper is folded and is bagged in an open sided plastic bag.

I am sure it wasn't funny at the time, David.

I've seen two Black Widows here, one in the rock wall, the other in the back yard.
BGE came and cut down all the morning glories and other vines and plants that were growing on the electric tower and carted all the mess away. Makes it easier for me to dump my weeds there now. Unfortunately they also sliced and killed a black snake that was in the overgrowth under the tower. At least the snake had a last meal, had a lump, probably a bunny.

Here is my "logic" re what to do if stung by a bee, wasp, or any bug.
I cannot vouch for it's effectiveness--but i do it.

Keep a shaker of "Meat tenderizer" around outside.
As soon as you get stung--grab that meat tenderizer--moisten your fingers
and rub the M.T. into the sting . Rub hard--use as much as you want.

The logic behind this is:
--We use meat Tenderizer on steaks and meats. Why? because it breaks down
the proteins in the meat and, so--tenderizes the meat.

--meat is a protein. So is venom.
--Rubbing the tenderizer into the sting area will break down the venom protein in the bite.
--This will alleviate the effect of the venom on the bite site and it will stop the pain and
reaction sooner.

Not MY idea! Heard it a long time ago...Do you have an opinion on this?
I am sure someone here will research this. Gita

those are young vultures...

Never tried this on a bee sting, but here is a very effective remedy for mosquito bites:

Fill a coffee mug 1/3 full with water.
Place in microwave for about 30 seconds
Place a metal spoon in the hot water for about 10 seconds,
Then hold the convex back of the spoon gently against the bite for several seconds
Reheat the spoon and repeat a couple of times.

The heat denatures the protein in the bite causing the site reaction and the stinging/itching stops immediately,

Good suggestions...makes science sense too

Burn coffee grounds to keep mosquitoes away ..like incense

MISSINGROSIE said:Good suggestions...makes science sense too

Burn coffee grounds to keep mosquitoes away ..like incense

Will coffee grounds in the soil keep mosquitos away.?

well... black soldier flies LOVE coffee grounds, so I don't know the grounds themselves have anything that bugs don't like I'm thinking the smoke.
Someone posted that coffee grounds keep cats from using the garden for litterbox.