Nepeta ..... Did you see that ...

Yes I saw that and thought the same,insect repellent !!, I never knew that , I'm a magnet for anything that bites too so will give it a try , our cat has no reaction at all to catnip whereas a long haired black vistor rolls in that catmint the minute it sprouts:-)

I have to keep mine in pots in the g'house as my cats love it, they roll in it but also eat it and it doesn't stand a chance in the garden, I didn't know it would deter the midges so have to remember that tip, mind you it doesn't deter mice as my pots are next to the apples that I keep for the birds and they are always being nibbled, been trying for years to stop the little blighters from living under my garden shed but nothing seems to work, luckily its right down the bottom of the garden, any nearer the house and the beggars would be in mega trouble....

If it stops mosquito bites then I'm filling my garden with it!!! They love me, got about 4 bites from doing garden yesterday. All through the summer, every morning was having to spray myself or I got bitten all over yet hubby never gets bitten. Even looked it up why me and not him. One site suggest it was down to my blood group O.

I cannot vouch for Nepeta being an insect repellent (as seen on Gardeners World) our cats used to love it, had to put a metal hanging basket over it, to stop them rolling in it, can make them very disoriented, so dangerous if you live on a busy road..
But if you want a mosquito repellent....then use The Body shop butter..... mango it grapefruit, has to be fruit based, works for me, and I am a magnet for the little blighters!!

I used to work with a lady who was always getting bitten at this time of the year, she wasn't a gardener and didn't keep pets, used to drive her mad, her doctor told her it was blood related, a sign of ones blood overheating, not sure if he meant they were't insect bites, they certainly looked like bites, she did like sunbathing, makes you wonder doesn't it...

Lincs the mice can be a right pain can't they , we have a cat visitor who has a bed in the greenhouse not had any problems in there since he's been around , I'll send him round ;-)
Yesterday Rob was laying the base for our new greenhouse using the old railway sleepers that were still there from the old one, a shrew had made a nest inside a hole in one of them and two babys helped him all afternoon so funny they weren't scared of him at all running round his feet , he made sure they'd gone back in their nest before he came in

It's the rats which I find concerning. They can carry Weils disease, which can be caught through cuts in the skin, in contact with water, contaminated by their urine. OH lost a friend to this disease, the hospital thought he had malaria and did not pick it up till too late. He had been cutting reeds in the stream on his property.
Having put a rat trap in the hole under the concrete base of the fence, they avoided it, and came around our property and up the drive into the garden. We resorted to a poison bait box. Obviously works, collected up a dead adult on the drive. Took about 6 weeks to get it. It's us or them!!!!

I hate rats but our cat seems to keep them at bay. Saw them when we 1st moved in but not since. Previous owner kept chickens but we don't so think that also helps.

Lincslass, this site I read also said about body temp. This last couple of years I've been bitten worse then ever so could be another side effect of "hot flushes" :-(.

People going on holiday to Scotland after May 31st could take a bundle of fresh picked Catmint to put in their clothing.

Our cat loves cat mint, in fact, she has killed one plant because as soon as it sprouts, she was on it. I have bought another and its in a pot. Never thought of collecting seed, good plan, I will try and get some from mine so that I can have more around for her to enjoy.
Siris: I think you need a jack russell to sort the rats. Darn things, they turn my compost over in the bins a treat, lol. The bins are way way up the garden, near the stream so not a problem really and I always wear gloves, as like you say they carry awful disease. Dont they say we are never too far away from a rat.

Jen, I think you are right, next doors have Guinea pigs, the rats try to get at the food, then into ours for a drink from the pond. Us neighbours have had a coordinated attack on them as they were running across the shed roofs and climbing down the fences, then under the gravel boards. Clever little blighters though.
Ps rubbed a couple of catmint leaves on my arms, ankles, and midriff where my t shirt comes out. No bits today.

I read somewhere that bay leaves ward off moths. I couldn't find anyone to supply me with those lavender-scented, lavender-coloured Mothacks.(?) I've had these leaves in drawers all over the place and they seem to be working. Anyone else use them?

Daughter has lots of lavender but though I love it on shelves it does make a mess when it dries out.

Also read that spiders hate peppermint. Certainly didn't know about catmint warding off the mosquitoes.

Cat still brings in live mice and voles! Any remedy?

Thank you, Eirlys, We should not forget these old remedies/solutions. You have just prompted me to look out an old book 1950 (one of my mothers) 'I have a house' with knowledge handed down the generations!!
We changed our 80% wool carpet in the bedroom for a synthetic one because of moths. Unfortunately I have just chopped the top off my mop headed Bay tree, in a pot. But there were no leaves on the top. Yes, Lavender doesmake a mess. Sandlewood? Not exactly local. Don't mind spiders, keep the flies down, pity about the cobwebs! Like cats, don't mind mice if they still have their heads on and stay outside, and voles.

The same is true of most aromatic herbs. Mint discourages spiders, ants don't like it either. have also read that feverfew, lavender, artemisia, geranium, etc. and just about any aromatic herb is a deterrent for something! like lady's bedstraw and fleas! Rufus frequents the front bed where I've let the catnip establish near a variegated mint like herb...still haven't found out what it is yet! they co-exist happily and seem resistant to cat rolls!

Lori, Understand conkers help keep spiders away, but then the flies would take over. I think I know the variegated would it be Mentha suaveolen Pineapple mint or maybe X villosa Bowles Mint ? Mine is well nibbled by some bug or other.

Thank you Siris! I thought it might be pineapple mint as it has a distinctive smell and flavour! I had a lot of flea beetles this summer..mainly because it was dry, I think. The lower leaves of the grape ivy resemble fine lace..and I think it's the beetles who are to blame!

Lori, my variegated pineapple? mint is lacy like a doily. Must be the flee beetles you mentioned.

LOL! All the leaves are off the grape vine and the flea beetles are fleeing, Siris. We have our first snow today! brrrr.... it's early. From my window I can see a few small fruit clumps shivering in the snow... ice wine? lol... if only!

Oh, no Lori, had to look at your profile to see where you live. We very rarely get any snow here on the south coast of the UK.

The Oaks and Poplar still have their leaves! It's supposed to go up to 12 C tomorrow! crazy weather. My paternal great grandfather came from East Sussex in 1868, Siris, and lived the first winter in a tent on the shore of Muskoka Lake! What a shock that was! Seeing England (especially the south coast) is on my Bucket List. (:-)

Blimey, Lori, what a crazy pioneer, but needs must! If you get to the Uk, you will find we are a little crammed in on this little island. Having said that there are some beautiful landscapes to see. I include Scotland and Wales in that statement, they have more wilderness places.

I'd like to see the chalk cliffs and visit Brighton. when talking to Karen I've found many similarities between Scotland and where I live. (Highlands...rocks and pines.) and some of the place names are Welsh...Pembroke, for instance is a town not far from us on the Ottawa River. (friend Sanda is in Pembrokeshire) I'm a history nut married to an ex-history teacher (retired) and my fave subject was ancient history and early English history. That's probably why the UK and Italy are at the top of my bucket list. :-)

Lori last couple of years have had a holiday in Italy, have 2 blogs on here, but only really about plants. Visited Pompei and Herculaneum.