Cindy discovered a creepy new tenant outside her office window recently:
I offered to just open the window and knock the nest to the ground (it was a new one, only about the size of a walnut) but she wouldn't hear of it. I was sent to the store for some long-distance wasp spray and some traps for the patio.
The "27 foot range" spray made it about 20 feet up - coming within about 5 feet of the nest - just couldn't quite reach from the ground. However, there must have been enough chemical smell to ward off Ms. Buggy, since I didn't see her for the rest of the day.
I opened the window and knocked the nest down. Cindy was sure that it was certain death to open the window, which is odd since she grew up in Florida (with its billions of bugs) and I didn't.
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Speaking of the great outdoors - does this stuff grow near any of you?
It's Spanish Moss, which of course isn't moss at all - it's in the same family as the pineapple, who knew?
Anyway, this stuff is growing all over the place here. It does find some uses in arts and crafts and gardening, but it seems like it's missing its true opportunity - organic, biodegradable packing-filler material! No more styrofoam peanuts.
The only thing is, it doesn't have much shape or oomph right off the tree. It would need to be stiffened (which perhaps simple drying could accomplish) and shaped into something more spacey, like cylinders (just wrap em round some curlers while they dry... and maybe a quick spritz of AquaNet).
I wonder if there are any shipping companies interested in becoming more green? I'll bet there are. I smell an EtchCo product!
Sure, there could be a long-lasting negative impact to the environment due to spreading an epiphyte to new areas, but this is all about big business.
I offered to just open the window and knock the nest to the ground (it was a new one, only about the size of a walnut) but she wouldn't hear of it. I was sent to the store for some long-distance wasp spray and some traps for the patio.The "27 foot range" spray made it about 20 feet up - coming within about 5 feet of the nest - just couldn't quite reach from the ground. However, there must have been enough chemical smell to ward off Ms. Buggy, since I didn't see her for the rest of the day.
I opened the window and knocked the nest down. Cindy was sure that it was certain death to open the window, which is odd since she grew up in Florida (with its billions of bugs) and I didn't.
~~~~~~~~~~
Speaking of the great outdoors - does this stuff grow near any of you?
It's Spanish Moss, which of course isn't moss at all - it's in the same family as the pineapple, who knew?Anyway, this stuff is growing all over the place here. It does find some uses in arts and crafts and gardening, but it seems like it's missing its true opportunity - organic, biodegradable packing-filler material! No more styrofoam peanuts.
The only thing is, it doesn't have much shape or oomph right off the tree. It would need to be stiffened (which perhaps simple drying could accomplish) and shaped into something more spacey, like cylinders (just wrap em round some curlers while they dry... and maybe a quick spritz of AquaNet).
I wonder if there are any shipping companies interested in becoming more green? I'll bet there are. I smell an EtchCo product!
Sure, there could be a long-lasting negative impact to the environment due to spreading an epiphyte to new areas, but this is all about big business.
We have something similar here - we call it Old Mans Beard.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the wasp... *shudder*
ReplyDeleteIn response to the Spanish Moss... it reminds me a little of the Weeping Willow trees we have here.