posted
I got all excited about putting a morning glory teepee in the yard for my daughters to play in... however, my husband raised some concern that it would be a breeding ground for spiders. There are spiders all over the place here. We've even seen black widows. What would be the best way to make it not a home for spiders, but still safe for children to play in?
* * * * rellie Plants: 147 | From: bellflower, ca | Registered: Jan 2004
| Seeded: 24.130.136.119
posted
I have no clue...but the best time to get those black widows is at night with a flash light in hand. Several months ago went around the perimeter of house/garage/RV garage/greenhouse/wood pile and inside the RV garage and sprayed Raid and smooshed about 25-30 of them. Make sure you get both sexes of them and smash the egg sac as well. I transplanted a stinging nettle plant on my patio yesterday and after it was all done a female and male black widow came out and I had had my arm under the cascading bush! Smooshed em both!!!!
I have another kind of spider but don't know what they are ....they are real light colored thin legged spider with virtually no body/moves REAL fast and boy do they bite ya a good one! I leave my garden spiders alone except when they are in my walkway, then I just keep moving there webs. They get frustrated and build where they don't get disturbed. Nothing is worse than coming to the front door in the dark and getting a face full of spider. Who needs a dog....when you have spiders protecting you....You should hear what comes flying out of people's mouths when they walk into one!!!
* * * * Plants: 7129 | From: California | Registered: Mar 2003
| Seeded: 68.66.244.5
posted
Catlover, don't forget those huge brownish spiders that make those big webs from one tree to the next...I don't know what they are...but they are BIG guys
* * * * Plants: 1985 | From: Ugh...Van Nuys, CA | Registered: Nov 2003
| Seeded: 205.188.208.108
posted
I had a spider last year (have no idea what is was) when I moved a clumping succulent....I knelt down put my arms around and under and held the massive/heavy rootball and plant that wanted to seperate against my stomach/chest area and transferred the thing twice because the hole was a little bit to deep. When setting it in place for the final time this big giganto dark brown hairy looking beast came out....(I don't know kinda looked like a trap door spider/tarantula looking thing but HUGO GIGANTO HAIRY) And he moved soooooooooooo fast! I had gloves on and a short sleeved T-shirt.... to think that thing could of been in contact with my arm, belly, boob...... .......Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey....could of been on my shirt or IN it for that matter.
Allthumbs....that was "justifiable" spider elimination!!!!
That gave me the eeeebeeee geeebeee's for months! Catlover
* * * * Plants: 7129 | From: California | Registered: Mar 2003
| Seeded: 68.66.244.5
posted
Wow, gee thanks guys. lots of help. now I'm really afraid to venture outside. ha ha. we don't have the tree spiders here, thank goodness, they're frightfull looking. seen 'em at my cousins. but I'll take spiders over snow... as far as I know no one's invented a spray to get rid of a blizzard.
* * * * rellie Plants: 147 | From: bellflower, ca | Registered: Jan 2004
| Seeded: 24.130.136.119
I'll still take a blizzard to something that at any potential moment, could be jumpin' out at me or on me (* AND NOT KNOW IT ) and bite me, with deadly poisions!!!!!
they forcast blizzards, I can stock up on food and "stuff" and stay home and be safe!! And we don't have blizzards everyday of the week, 24~7~365!!!!! Come to think of it, we haven't really had a "blizzard" in a few years!!!
Weezie
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
hey...use a blow torch to rid blizzard.or line up barrels in yard with oil burning.will melt before it lands MG teepee sounds kewl.I have a wisteria teepee hubby been bit by recluse spider twice.nasty lil bugger.I don't care for agressive spiders.i got tons of daddy long legs...so if ya ever want any...will mail ya some.they eat bugs.
* * * * I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!
posted
Morning Glories attrack hummingbirds. Hummingbirds eat spiders. Personally I hate spiders too. We don't have the widow spiders here very often but we do get big icky spiders. I'ld check the teepee before letting them play in it and get rid of (SMASH) any spiders found there.
Plants: 20 | From: Ohio | Registered: Jan 2004
| Seeded: 24.95.41.168
posted
Hi! Well, I've got the tee pee structure up, YAY Will try to get pics up soon. I nicked and soaked morning glory and sweet pea seeds in two tupperware containers and on planting day handed one to each of my girls with instructions "Do NOT open this until I tell you to!" turned around to grab a shovel and by the time I looked the younger (age 2 1/2) had dumped the morning glory seeds somewhere in the lawn! My fault for entrusting her to the task. I just had to laugh at her sweet smile. I asked "Who spilled this?" In the guiless way little ones have she raised her hand up high and proudly said, "I DO!" so the tee pee has sweet pea seeds planted, but not yet sprouting. I wonder what will become of the morning glories!?! But whether or not the sweet peas grow, the tee pee is already a hit with the girls who play in it every time we go out front.
* * * * rellie Plants: 147 | From: bellflower, ca | Registered: Jan 2004
| Seeded: 24.130.136.119
posted
Good job, Rellie! Eager to see your pics. What a fun thing for the kids to play in....It's gonna be great when everything gets all sprouty & starts climbing.
* * * * Plants: 1985 | From: Ugh...Van Nuys, CA | Registered: Nov 2003
| Seeded: 152.163.252.161
Jiffymouse
guest
posted
That's sweet Rellie. Glad they like it, and i'mm with jillie, can't wait to see the pics!
Seeded: 12.77.200.242
I really like your sweetpeateepee....try sayin' that five times fast!!! Your baby sounds adorable! I think I will make something like that for my boys this year. I have a small side yard by my driveway, that during the summer I park my car blocking off the front of the drive on the street so the boys can skate, ride their trikes and bikes, etc. I think a children's garden there would be wonderful...with a tee pee and some sunflowers, etc., next to their sandbox and park bench. I could even use their old wading pool to make a small vegtable garden for them to tend....oh, boy! Sounds like fun! When they grow up I will use the side yard for a rose cutting garden, with all diff specimens.
Have a happy day! Barbara
* * * * Plants: 458 | From: Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Jan 2004
| Seeded: 69.139.4.81
posted
OH!! And P.S. SHOULD I have soaked the morning glory seeds????? I did for the sweat peas and they are sprouting, but nothing with the morning glories. I don't think they said on the package to soak.
Barb
* * * * Plants: 458 | From: Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Jan 2004
| Seeded: 69.139.4.81
posted
Thanks Barb, I too park at the bottom of my driveway when I'm doing yard work and the kiddos play, ride bikes, trikes, whatever. Thought that was my original idea!
The morning glory packet I got said nick the hulls of and soak the seeds for 12 hours prior planting. but since mine are in the grass... who knows what they're doing...
* * * * rellie Plants: 147 | From: bellflower, ca | Registered: Jan 2004
| Seeded: 24.130.136.119
I planted some morning glories....both inside and out...the outside ones are finally starting to sprout...though not as many as i planted. The ones in the house are sprouting nicely though!
The boys liked the idea of the teepee..but they also said they wanted it in the upper tier garden so that they they could let their trains drive through it like a tunnel...so that may be what we do!
Barb
* * * * Plants: 458 | From: Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Jan 2004
| Seeded: 69.139.4.81
posted
I've never soaked morning glory seeds. I think you're going to have to check the teepee each time before your girls get in it to make sure there are no creatures. I've had hummingbirds buzz my head and I'm sure they could scare your children.
posted
we have cockateils in the house so the girls are not too scared of birds. and they go bug hunting everytime we go outside. they collect worms, ants, rolly-pollies, and ladybugs. the iceplants on the divider wall are right at my daughters' eye level and it gets swarmed with bees. my four year old walked right up by the plants to watch the bees and told me, "mom, i can get up close to them... as long as i don't bother them they won't sting me" she's braver than me!
My only real concern is spiders. expecially since i know there are black widows in this area.
finally the sweet peas are starting to sprout! Well, at least one anyway. I'm so happy!
* * * * rellie Plants: 147 | From: bellflower, ca | Registered: Jan 2004
| Seeded: 24.130.136.119
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There are spiders all over the place here. We've even seen black widows. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
What would be the best way to make it not a home for spiders, but still safe for children to play in? ![[dunno]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
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Will try to get pics up soon. I nicked and soaked morning glory and sweet pea seeds in two tupperware containers and on planting day handed one to each of my girls with instructions "Do NOT open this until I tell you to!" turned around to grab a shovel and by the time I looked the younger (age 2 1/2) had dumped the morning glory seeds somewhere in the lawn! ![[nutz]](graemlins/nutz.gif)
My fault for entrusting her to the task. I just had to laugh at her sweet smile. I asked "Who spilled this?" In the guiless way little ones have she raised her hand up high and proudly said, "I DO!" ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[kissies]](graemlins/kissies.gif)
so the tee pee has sweet pea seeds planted, but not yet sprouting. I wonder what will become of the morning glories!?! But whether or not the sweet peas grow, the tee pee is already a hit with the girls who play in it every time we go out front. 
![[clappy]](graemlins/clappy.gif)
she's braver than me!![[flower]](graemlins/flower.gif)
Well, at least one anyway. I'm so happy!
Printer-friendly view of this garden