Or is it? Cos every time I go out to work in the garden I come in bitten
on exposed skin - namely neck, chest and lower arms! So itchy that I'm
having to take antihistamine. Is anyone else having this problem and if so
what do you do about it?
--
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of
battle.
http://ariesval.co.uk/val/

"aries" wrote...
Or is it? Cos every time I go out to work in the garden I come in bitten
on exposed skin - namely neck, chest and lower arms! So itchy that I'm
having to take antihistamine. Is anyone else having this problem and if
so
what do you do about it?

Yes, I've received a few bites, there is certainly something about.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden

On 7/4/09 08:16, in article ,
"aries" wrote:

Or is it? Cos every time I go out to work in the garden I come in bitten
on exposed skin - namely neck, chest and lower arms! So itchy that I'm
having to take antihistamine. Is anyone else having this problem and if so
what do you do about it?

They're out in small clouds here, Val but I haven't been bitten. You must
be particularly tasty! I think the only answer is a repellent that you
know works well for you. I never wear perfume when I'm working in the
garden, partly because I don't want to attract bees (I wear floral or
citrus-y scents) and also because of its reaction with the skin in sunlight.
I don't know if you wear a perfume but if so, wonder if it might be better
not to!

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online

On Apr 7, 8:16*am, aries wrote:
Or is it? *Cos every time I go out to work in the garden I come in bitten
on exposed skin - namely neck, chest and lower arms! *So itchy that I'm
having to take antihistamine. *Is anyone else having this problem and if so
what do you do about it?
--
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of
battle.http://ariesval.co.uk/val/

They are out in force round here Val, fortunately they seem to leave
me alone but Edward has to spray himself with stufff on the ankles.

Judith

"Sacha" wrote
"aries" wrote:

Or is it? Cos every time I go out to work in the garden I come in bitten
on exposed skin - namely neck, chest and lower arms! So itchy that I'm
having to take antihistamine. Is anyone else having this problem and if
so
what do you do about it?

They're out in small clouds here, Val but I haven't been bitten. You must
be particularly tasty! I think the only answer is a repellent that you
know works well for you. I never wear perfume when I'm working in the
garden, partly because I don't want to attract bees (I wear floral or
citrus-y scents) and also because of its reaction with the skin in
sunlight.
I don't know if you wear a perfume but if so, wonder if it might be better
not to!

I must admit I don't usually wear perfume. :-)
There was a small cloud of midges over our pond this morning but I have also
seen small black flies, about pin head sized, that I think may be the
suspects.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden

On 7/4/09 10:53, in article ,
"Martin" wrote:

On Tue, 7 Apr 2009 02:35:30 -0700 (PDT), Judith in France
wrote:

On Apr 7, 8:16*am, aries wrote:
Or is it? *Cos every time I go out to work in the garden I come in bitten
on exposed skin - namely neck, chest and lower arms! *So itchy that I'm
having to take antihistamine. *Is anyone else having this problem and if so
what do you do about it?
--
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of
battle.http://ariesval.co.uk/val/

They are out in force round here Val, fortunately they seem to leave
me alone but Edward has to spray himself with stufff on the ankles.

To keep away French ankle biters?

We have midges too in NL.

I thought midges and mosquitoes preferred to chomp on female humans!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online

On 7/4/09 10:57, in article , "Bob Hobden"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote
"aries" wrote:

Or is it? Cos every time I go out to work in the garden I come in bitten
on exposed skin - namely neck, chest and lower arms! So itchy that I'm
having to take antihistamine. Is anyone else having this problem and if
so
what do you do about it?

They're out in small clouds here, Val but I haven't been bitten. You must
be particularly tasty! I think the only answer is a repellent that you
know works well for you. I never wear perfume when I'm working in the
garden, partly because I don't want to attract bees (I wear floral or
citrus-y scents) and also because of its reaction with the skin in
sunlight.
I don't know if you wear a perfume but if so, wonder if it might be better
not to!

I must admit I don't usually wear perfume. :-)

You've relieved my mind, Bob. ;-))

There was a small cloud of midges over our pond this morning but I have also
seen small black flies, about pin head sized, that I think may be the
suspects.

Is that those horrible little "no see 'ums" that leave a ferocious itch
behind? I think they look like delta wing aircraft in miniature.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online

aries writes
Or is it? Cos every time I go out to work in the garden I come in bitten
on exposed skin - namely neck, chest and lower arms! So itchy that I'm
having to take antihistamine. Is anyone else having this problem and if so
what do you do about it?

We certainly have a few clouds of small flies around, whether midges or
not I don't know - I don't get problems with them here.

Have you tried using insect repellent before you go out?

Another useful thing for bites is 'afterbite' (and other variously named
things) - basically a felt-tip-pen-like thing which dispenses an ammonia
solution/compound. Applied to the bite it is quite effective at stopping
he itching. Whether you feel this is preferable to antihistamine tablets
is for you to decide.

--
Kay

Sacha wrote:
I thought midges and mosquitoes preferred to chomp on female humans!

I was pregnant with my second son and I was living in Malta. Every inch of
me was covered in bites I used to stand in the shower, wet myself all
over and rub salt in.

They never bothered me for years after that though. I supposed it was
because of the hormones.

On 7/4/09 12:20, in article , "Ophelia"
wrote:

Sacha wrote:
I thought midges and mosquitoes preferred to chomp on female humans!

I was pregnant with my second son and I was living in Malta. Every inch of
me was covered in bites I used to stand in the shower, wet myself all
over and rub salt in.

They never bothered me for years after that though. I supposed it was
because of the hormones.


I do remember some young biologist telling me mosquitoes prefer female blood
but I don't know if that's so with midges, which is why I raised the
question. Presumably when one is pregnant whichever hormone attracts
mozzies is in overdrive!
The best thing I've ever used is Off, followed closely by the preferable
Skin So Soft. Avon sell the latter and in this country are not allowed to
advertise it as a repellent. However, great bit beefy lumberjacks told them
it was a surefire repellent in USA and the idea has caught on. You can buy
it online.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online

Aries wrote:
On Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:22:29 +0100, Sacha wrote:

On 7/4/09 08:16, in article ,
"aries" wrote:

[4 quoted lines suppressed]
They're out in small clouds here, Val but I haven't been bitten. You must
be particularly tasty! I think the only answer is a repellent that you
know works well for you. I never wear perfume when I'm working in the
garden, partly because I don't want to attract bees (I wear floral or
citrus-y scents) and also because of its reaction with the skin in sunlight.
I don't know if you wear a perfume but if so, wonder if it might be better
not to!

I do wear perfume but also anti persperants and shower gels might also be
an attraction

They don't seem to have reached us here in Dorset. I have never been
bothered by them, nor by the mozzies that gather round the pond. I often
smell of horses and goats, and always of dogs, perhaps that is why.

Bobbie:-)

On Apr 7, 1:14*pm, Aries wrote:
On Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:22:29 +0100, Sacha wrote:
On 7/4/09 08:16, in article ,
"aries" wrote:

[4 quoted lines suppressed]

They're out in small clouds here, Val but I haven't been bitten. *You must
be particularly tasty! * I think the only answer is a repellent that you
know works well for you. *I never wear perfume when I'm working in the
garden, partly because I don't want to attract bees (I wear floral or
citrus-y scents) and also because of its reaction with the skin in sunlight.
I don't know if you wear a perfume but if so, wonder if it might be better
not to!

I do wear perfume but also anti persperants and shower gels might also be
an attraction * * * * * * * * * * * *
--
What other people think of you is none of your business.http://ariesval.co.uk/val/http://s18...07/Quotations/

I don't wear perfume when the sun is shining Val!!!

Judith

The biting midge as well known in Scotland etc, is not out yet. The little things in clouds around this time of year are not they. But there are other biting flies around, in particular things called black flies, as Bob mentions. I find this time of year is the worst for bites in my garden, in Bucks.

Aries wrote:
On Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:18:52 +0100, Bobbie wrote:


They don't seem to have reached us here in Dorset. I have never been
bothered by them, nor by the mozzies that gather round the pond. I often
smell of horses and goats, and always of dogs, perhaps that is why.

Bobbie:-)

Come to think of it I don't remember being bothered by them when we were
farming either - hmmmmm?

I just been online and ordered skin so soft from Avon now so hope that'll
do the trick

I hear only good things about it. My friend Anne swears by it.
That seems like an excellent buy on-line. I hope it works for you, it
must be very frustrating, having to worry about being bitten every time
you go out of doors.
We had a loverly drop of rain last night and the grass is looking much
better for it. Today has been chilly but lots of sunshine.
Mary, Mary Quite Contrary how does your garden grow? No cockle shells
but the bluebells are about to flower and the blossom trees are a
picture. The greenhouse demands lots of attention now with lots of
potting on to do and the cuttings all doing well. Such an interesting
time of year, don't you think?


Bobbie

"Aries" wrote in message
.. .
On Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:22:29 +0100, Sacha wrote:

On 7/4/09 08:16, in article ,
"aries" wrote:

[4 quoted lines suppressed]

They're out in small clouds here, Val but I haven't been bitten. You
must
be particularly tasty! I think the only answer is a repellent that you
know works well for you. I never wear perfume when I'm working in the
garden, partly because I don't want to attract bees (I wear floral or
citrus-y scents) and also because of its reaction with the skin in
sunlight.
I don't know if you wear a perfume but if so, wonder if it might be
better
not to!

I do wear perfume but also anti persperants and shower gels might also be
an attraction
--
What other people think of you is none of your business.
http://ariesval.co.uk/val/
http://s184.photobucket.com/albums/x...07/Quotations/


If you really want to wear a scent in the garden, Val, try Lavender Water as
it is supposed to be an insect repellant ... well, if you discount bees,
that is ... :~)

Spider