Comments on: Summer in Full Bloom: Peony Memories http://www.riehlife.com/2008/06/22/summer-in-full-bloom-peony-memories/ Creating connections through the arts and across cultures Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:30:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Susan Tweit http://www.riehlife.com/2008/06/22/summer-in-full-bloom-peony-memories/comment-page-1/#comment-3150 Susan Tweit Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:02:10 +0000 http://www.riehlife.com/2008/06/22/summer-in-full-bloom-peony-memories/#comment-3150 We don't know how exactly how nectar-feeding ants help peony blossoms open, but we do know that peonies have nectar-secreting glands on their bud scales specifically to attract them, and that they and peonies have a mutually-beneficial relationship, so it's good that you're sparing the ants at your place. However, if you don't want them in your house, it's easy to repel them in a friendly but firm way: line your baseboards and door and windowsills with sprigs of fresh mint. Mint repels ants but doesn't hurt them, and it'll keep these gals out of the house! (And by the time the mint wilts, they will usually have given up the effort.) Most likely what you have are hungry workers looking for food for their growing colony, so you might also make sure you don't have any sources of sugary liquid they can get to in the house. We don't know how exactly how nectar-feeding ants help peony blossoms open, but we do know that peonies have nectar-secreting glands on their bud scales specifically to attract them, and that they and peonies have a mutually-beneficial relationship, so it's good that you're sparing the ants at your place. However, if you don't want them in your house, it's easy to repel them in a friendly but firm way: line your baseboards and door and windowsills with sprigs of fresh mint. Mint repels ants but doesn't hurt them, and it'll keep these gals out of the house! (And by the time the mint wilts, they will usually have given up the effort.) Most likely what you have are hungry workers looking for food for their growing colony, so you might also make sure you don't have any sources of sugary liquid they can get to in the house.

]]> By: Susan J. Tweit http://www.riehlife.com/2008/06/22/summer-in-full-bloom-peony-memories/comment-page-1/#comment-3144 Susan J. Tweit Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:30:57 +0000 http://www.riehlife.com/2008/06/22/summer-in-full-bloom-peony-memories/#comment-3144 A big sweet-smelling peony bouquet to you, Janet. I've just taken the peony duet further with a look at heritage plants, and what it means to root peonies--and me--in place here at home in Colorado. Susan http://communityoftheland.blogspot.com susanjtweit.com A big sweet-smelling peony bouquet to you, Janet. I've just taken the peony duet further with a look at heritage plants, and what it means to root peonies--and me--in place here at home in Colorado.

Susan
http://communityoftheland.blogspot.com
susanjtweit.com

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