Mosquitoes – we don’t care that you RSVP’d. You will be turned away!

We’ve had no mosquitoes the past two years. But that’s an exception. This year we’re rolling out traps designed by a non-profit in Hawaii: http://makemosquitotraps.org/the-four-month-trap/

We actually had the engineers at our company research drones with laser mosquito zappers. A university is doing it with surprisingly low powered lasers. But right now it would probably cost more than a car.

Paint 5 gallon buckets black. Traditional mosquito condo color.

 

Paint sticks with 1% bifenthrin and dry. Fill buckets with 2 gallons water mixed with compost to mimic pond water. Add 2 T. 0.5% spinosad. While not exactly “natural”, one chemical is allowed to be sprayed on organic crops, the other is used in commercial kitchens. Place sticks partly in water.

 

Cover tightly with 2″ holes in lids so critters don’t drink the water.

The pretend pond water attracts mosquitoes to lay their eggs. The solution in the water prevents the eggs from ever hatching. When the mosquito lands on the stick, it’s days are numbered. 

Make a map of where the traps are! In a few weeks they will be totally overgrown here.

 

Just in case: testing professional mosquito fogger, good for 6 hours. Safe for people 15 minutes after application.

We’ll also have natural repellant and OFF! in case any mosquito sneaks in.

Infrastructure is taking shape

Lots of the big projects are well on their way. At the end of each day, we’re excited to imagine our big event.

Reminder: to view on the website, click the link and enter wedding2017

More clearing, raking, unrooting.

 

Band stage on the left. Grass in the distance. It’s coming together!

 

Time for a margarita break on our river bank at sunset. We hope you take the path to the river and enjoy the porch swing there.

 

The garden blue and orange period is here. JS has different color schemes that bloom week by week.

 

250 feet of underground wiring for the band and coffee!
JS enjoying coffee Sunday morning in the greenhouse, before weeding and trenching.

 

Timber bamboo happens to be the right age for project use. More than 30 feet tall.

 

“Planting” timber bamboo in PVC buried in the ground with gravel.

 

The root sticking up into the path was a little more than we expected. From a cedar cut long before JS was on the land – could be 100 years ago. Amazing that it doesn’t rot in the wet ground. Only one way to deal with it, though it dulls the chainsaw.

 

300 feet of 1 inch water line – working!