Front (porch) line of defense

It appears that winter has (at last!) taken its final bow and let spring onto the stage. Thank goodness for that. I'm not usually one to wish away seasons but I found myself uncharacteristically antsy the past few months. I've been itching to take walks, go on picnics, and remind my pale skin what the sun feels like. Now those itches can be scratched, so to speak.

 

Speaking of itches, though, there is one tiny problem with my love of the spring warmth. Actually, it's more like a million tiny problems: bug bites. Oh my word, do I get them! Ever since I was a little girl I have been a magnet for bug bites and they well up like I've been pelted with a paint gun. This year, I'm getting serious in my defensive plan against those pesky biters, starting with my favorite outdoor spot: our front porch. I did buy a citronella candle but wanted to do something extra that would also perk our curb appeal.

Here is a quick list of some of the best plants for repelling bugs, especially mosquitoes. You can click on each one to find a thorough overview it, courtesy of the fantastic Missouri Botanical Garden.

Catnip
Basil
Garlic
Horsemint
Lemon grass
Marigolds
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage


Catnip is generally regarded as one of the very best plants to repel mosquitoes, roughly ten times better than DEET. That made it the obvious winner for me! It's a hearty perennial herb that prefers sunlight and yes, is loved by cats. I read somewhere that catnip has the equivalent affect on cats that marijuana has on humans. How about that? Matt and I walked over to our local nursery and bought up three bunches. I painted some very old terracotta pots and voila! our porch is a bit more colorful and I'll hopefully avoid some welts bug bites. And maybe make a few feline friends?

I'll keep you posted on how well the Catnip works!