One late spring day I found a potted mint plant in Kroger’s produce department. Since I don’t have good luck with house plants, I planted it next to my mailbox. The brick border should keep this aggressive species from spreading; it’s worked so far. I enjoy leaves blended into my yogurt/fruit smoothies and, as you can see below, pollinators like its blooms.
Filming these calm insects was all fine and good until one of the big black critters landed on my arm. Unfortunately I’d stopped recording. Evidence of my reaction would have been hilarious, I’m sure. The wasp simply flew away, probably startled as me by my reaction. lol I don’t even know if those wasps have a stinger.
Are you or a friend/loved one allergic to insect venom? Did you know that disturbed fire ants here in the US state of Florida can inflict life threatening anaphylaxis?
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That's not just mint, that looks like catnip, which as I'm sure you know, is in the mint family. Is it catnip? It has the flowers for it, but I didn't get a good look at the leaves in the video. I have a cousin who has to carry around an epi pen in case of bee sting. Or he could die. I do carry anti histamines, as sometimes I get a bad reaction but only at the site of the sting and I get stung a lot in late summer because I often smell like cat food or tuna.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's catnip but I'll show you a better look at the leaves. :D Be safe, my dear.
DeleteVery pretty. I did know some insects can be life threatening.
ReplyDeleteI had a visual on your reaction to the critter on your arm. I think I would have had the same reaction.
Have a fabulous day and week. Hugs. ♥
lol
DeleteA wasp would have freaked me out, too.
ReplyDeleteI try to remain calm around pollinators, but yeah... lol
DeleteWe planted some mint plants in the our backyard.. we have some overgrown forested area where we hope the mint with evade and spread.
ReplyDeleteMy son is allergies so bees.
I'm sorry to read about your son's allergy. Be well, my dear.
DeleteYes, my wife ended up in the ICU because of those fire ant stings. She ended up being fine but it was sure scary. She can't work outdoors anymore.
ReplyDeleteThat's the sort of thing I fear. Happy she is fine, I'm sorry for the scare and aftermath.
DeleteMy father was stung by bees many times then later in his life, he had a severe reaction to a bee sting and was told if he was ever stung again, go straight to hospital emergency.
ReplyDeleteFire ants have only been here a couple of decades and at the moment only in Queensland. New South Wales is trying to stop their movement south.
Oh, no! It's not like you need more dangerous animals Down Under.
DeleteI am glad I am not allergic and no one I know is either. XO
ReplyDeleteOh, good. Hugs, my dear.
DeleteDear Darla, Thank you so much for your kind message via Facebook about my Toffee. I notice you got the standard automatic message before I managed to write to you properly. The message is there now if you have another look. xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss. Best wishes, my dear, and thank you for the kind response.
DeleteSo pretty!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting and leaving a kind word. And I enjoyed your latest post.
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ReplyDeleteThe fire ants were coming into FL. while I still lived there but hadn't made it to Melbourne yet. The ones we had were vicious enough. They hurt when they bit. I had never seen mosquitoes as big as there are there. Big enough to make you think they were a house fly until it bit you. And you found it was a huge mosquito. The sand fleas, the huge winged roaches.....oh, my. But I miss it a lot! And my occasional alligator in the drainage ditch. Have a wonderful day and I wish I could find more potted mint and do the same that you did.
Yikes! And hugs, my dear.
DeleteI am not allergic but would love to not be stung! lol....I keep a bee bath, watering hole for them. OUCH, when Cory was a young boy, about 4, we were visiting my aunt and uncle in Georgia and he was outside, stepped in a nest of them. We had to run him in the house, strip him down and put him in the bath.
ReplyDeleteOh, poor Cory. That must have been terrifying for you all.
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