These Insanely Helpful Garden Plants Keep the Mosquitoes Away
Say goodbye to the outdoor pests. Bugs come with the territory when you’re outdoors, but some are more tolerable than others. If it feels like mosquitoes are invading your yard, it’s understandable to want to do what you can to get rid of them. Enter mosquito repellent plants. Here’s the thing: Experts say that the best way to keep mosquitoes at bay is to use personal repellents recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But if you want to go a more natural route, you may be interested in selecting certain plants—they’re just not necessarily guaranteed to work as well as a spray. “The idea that planting certain plants around your home will successfully repel mosquitoes is only supported by anecdotal evidence and not empirical evidence,” says Eva Buckner, Ph.D., assistant professor and state extension specialist at the University of Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. It’s important to note, though, that there is some evidence that certain plants may help discourage certain mosquitoes from setting up camp in your yard—they just don’t work as well as a chemical or spray. If it feels like your outdoor space is a haven to mosquitoes, it’s a good idea to “eliminate mosquito breeding grounds on and around your property by draining standing water from flowerpots, birdbaths, grill covers, baby pools, and other sources,” says Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., board-certified entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Using a small fan outside may also help keep mosquitoes away since “they are not strong flyers,” Fredericks says. But if you like the look and smell of certain plants and want to see if they keep the mosquitoes away, too, there’s no reason not to try them. These are the plants fans swear are most likely to help get rid of mosquitoes. Snap up one or a few to enhance your outdoor space.
2023-06-26T20:04:01Z
Children's movies that are equally entertaining for adults
Over the years, screens have become more and more incorporated into parenting. The means may have changed, once VHS and antennas and now iPads and Netflix, but the fact of the matter is that they’re everywhere. That doesn’t mean it’s all bad! Watching movies as a family can be a fantastic way to bond. You enter the emotional ride together, one person’s laughter at a joke can make another laugh even harder, and you all come away from it with the same moral lesson delivered. Of course, that all depends on picking the right movie. There’s nothing less useful than sitting children down in front of a TV, flicking on whatever mind-numbing movie is playing, and going off to do something else. Instead, why not take advantage of the wide range of movies that you enjoyed as a kid, or watch a new film that everyone can enjoy together? The children’s film industry isn’t just creating animations that will capture young people’s attention for an hour and a half—these days, most children’s movies are catered towards their parents, AKA the paying customers. And it’s working! There are so many hidden jokes and veiled analogies in children’s films that they’re enjoyable for people of any age. Pick from this long list of flicks that are sure to leave you with the warm, lasting joy created only by shared laughter, endearing characters, and quality time.
2024-06-01T15:02:52Z