Herbal insect repellant is all over the internet this time of year.  I’ve downloaded a few recipes myself.  And when the reports hit the news that it would be one of the worst years for mosquitos in a long time, I was concerned.  I water in the evening just before dark, their favorite time of day. And I hate insect repellent all over my legs and arms. 

But I haven’t had mosquitos like in years past.  So far, I’ve had one bite from sitting on the patio reading a book until it was too dark to see. Then I realized why as I read an article about plants that repel the nasty little creatures.  It is the plants I have growing around the house!

If you’ve read my blogs in the past I talk about my Basil crop that there is no way to use.  I dried it last year and gave it away in tiny jars as Christmas presents.  The herb garden in the back serves several uses mostly for cooking. 

But in the front, I am overrun with Marigolds!  They reseed like the Basil in the back and I am unable to thin them as I should.  They’ve taken over the front flower bed and provide a lush of color to the front of the house.  These little hardy flowers take the Oklahoma sun and last into the fall. The children next door love to water and pick them. 

I also have Lemon Balm growing in the back yard next to some Mint.  It is in the same family, smells like lemon and can be used in tea or on chicken.  It makes a good ground cover where little grows and comes back each year.

The article I read mentioned Lemon Balm, Marigolds, and Basil as deterrents to mosquitos and other insects.  I guess they don’t like the way they smell.  Too bad, I think they smell lovely and they were free.  They come back each year. 

Let me know if you need a start of any of these plants.  Nature provides them to me each year and I am happy to share.