10 Plants That Will Spruce Up Your Garden And Keep Mosquitos Away

Is your green thumb overdue for a project? Spring is the most popular time for new plantings because of the optimal conditions, with longer days, more sunlight, and increased rain. As long as you're gardening anyway, you have a great opportunity to choose some plants that can safely keep mosquitos out of your yard. Here are 10 that have been shown to be effective.

Mint is an effective mosquito repellant that also helps to keep flies away. It's also a great addition to an herb garden. It can be invasive, however, "and can take over an area very quickly," said do it yourself. "Plant mint in a large coffee can with the bottom cut out to keep it from taking over your garden."

Lavender

For sheer beauty and a lovely scent, it doesn't get much better than lavender. Thankfully, mosquitos don't share our love of the scent. "Have you ever noticed that insects or even rabbits and other animals have never decimated your lavender plant? It is because of their lovely fragrance, which comes from its essential oils that are found on the leaves of the plant," said Garden Design. "It is even argued that lavender oil hinders a mosquito's ability to smell! This plant is very tough and drought-resistant once established, and only needs full sun and good drainage. And while it can endure many climates, it thrives in warmer areas."

Catnip 

Catnip works as a mosquito repellent thanks to the ingredient nepetalactone, which "was found to be 10X stronger than even DEET in a recent study," said Best Plants. "It is a good non-toxic alternative to traditional chemical sprays."

Citronella

You might not enjoy having citronella candles in your yard, which can be smelly and also are "often laden with chemicals," said Natural Living Ideas. But go the citronella plant route and you can get the mosquito-repelling qualities in a more natural manner. "The citronella plant (officially known as the citrosum plant and often referred to as the mosquito plant) can be grown in your garden for mosquito control. The plant carries the fragrance of citronella in its foliage, and when a leaf is crushed and rubbed onto the skin, the aroma is very pleasant, yet it helps to naturally repel those mosquitoes. While not as effective as bottled repellents, it comes without the high price or potentially hazardous chemicals, and when grown in the garden, you'll always have it on hand."

Lemongrass 

If you don't want to plant citronella, plant lemongrass instead. This ornamental grass contains citronella, and many - except for mosquitos - find the scent to be pleasing.

Marigolds

"Not only do they make your landscape more attractive, but marigolds also have a distinct smell that repels mosquitoes," said Angie's List. Super easy to grow, marigolds can start from seeds or from a "starter plant from a nursery or floral department." Placing them close to doors and windows or in outdoor living spaces will help ensure that mosquitos stay away from the places your family typically congregates. And, "They also deter insects that prey on tomato plants - an added bonus for gardeners."

Lemon Balm

There are numerous potential benefits to growing lemon balm in your yard. Not only will it keep those bloodsuckers from invading your yard, but, "This member of the mint family has white flowers and a gentle lemony scent, as well as some healing properties," said Rodale's Organic Life. Because it's considered a calming herb, lemon balm has been "used as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion (including gas and bloating, as well as colic)," said the University of Maryland Medical Center. "Even before the Middle Ages, lemon balm was steeped in wine to lift the spirits, help heal wounds, and treat venomous insect bites and stings. Today, lemon balm is often combined with other calming, soothing herbs, such as valerian, chamomile, and hops, to promote relaxation. It is also used in creams to treat cold sores."

The potential downsides: It "attracts pollinators, such as bees," said Angie's List. "It's fast growing, drought resistant and reseeds itself, so consider planting in a pot rather than in your yard to avoid a lemon balm takeover."

Rosemary

Rosemary has a pleasant scent and makes a great fresh herb to add to roasted chicken, potatoes, and steak, but it is also effective at repelling mosquitos. Plus, it looks great in the garden. "Plants can be grown in containers on a patio and shaped into ornamental pyramids, grown in herb gardens or planted in landscaped beds, where some varieties can grow quite large," said Mother Nature Network (MNN). "The plant itself and its cuttings are effective repellents. You can make a simple repellent spray by boiling 1 quart of dried rosemary in a quart of water for 20 to 30 minutes and then straining the liquid into a container at least a half-gallon in size that contains a quart of cool water. Put a cap on the combined liquid and store it in the refrigerator. Add the repellent to small squirt bottles as needed when going outdoors."

You can also clip some of the rosemary and burn it for extra insurance against mosquitos. "If you're planning to gather around a fire, try burning a little sage or rosemary," said Rodale's. "The incense these plants give off when they burn not only smells good but is unpleasant enough to most species of insects that it'll repel them - as long as you're near the smoke."

Lemon Thyme

Lemon thyme is a perennial with an herby lemon smell (and taste), "It pairs well in everything from salads and vegetable dishes, to meat, and fish," said The Kitchn, making it a great choice if you're looking to grow fresh herbs to use in your cooking. It properties can also send mosquitos away, but requires one extra step. "The plant itself will not repel pesky mosquitoes," said MNN. "To release its chemicals, you must first bruise the leaves. To do this, simply cut off a few stems and rub them between your hands."

Basil

Expand that herb garden with basil and you also get the benefit of a plant that turns mosquitos off. "Basil is another herb that can also double as a pest repellent," said Garden Design. "The pungent smell the basil leaves give off are what keep pests at bay. This herb likes to be kept damp, needs good drainage, and enjoys lots of sun. You can plant basil in containers or in the garden, alone or with other flowers, as long as both plants meet the same requirements."

WRITTEN BY JAYMI NACIRI  

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Everyone Wants a Piece of the Action

How Miami Is Drawing Global Recognition—and Why Everyone Wants a Piece of the Action

By Jon Warech | March 31, 2017 | Home & Real Estate Feature

No longer just the gateway to the Americas, Miami is now a true global hot spot, attracting attention from Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.

The monumental bronze sculpture by Fernando Botero outside SLS Brickell.

For years, Miami was a place to watch the sun rise, Jet Ski across the bay, and spend untold hours soaking in the scenery. Heaven on earth hopped up on Cuban coffee, the city’s location made it the perfect escape not just from frigid weather to the north, but from political turmoil to the south. The whole world, it seemed, wanted to come to Miami. They still do, of course, but increasingly now, they all want a piece of the action.

“It’s a tropical paradise and a truly urban city,” says Craig Robins, CEO and president of Dacra, the real estate development crew behind Miami’s latest boomtown, the Miami Design District. “Miami has become a city of global cultural substance. It’s hard to define tourist and local. We have full-time residents, we have people who spend the winter here, we have people with second, third, fourth, and fifth homes here, and then we have people staying in hotels. It’s that combination of people who are experiencing Miami in different ways that makes up the totality of our city. It makes Miami a much bigger city than its population.”

One Thousand Museum, designed by Zaha Hadid, one of the starchitects who helped put Miami on the global map.

Indeed, the multimillion-dollar penthouses with helipads at One Thousand Museum (1000museum.com), the Formula One simulators at the Estates at Acqualina, the Olympic-size infinity pools and every other amenity under the sun are attracting tenants from across the planet, turning Miami into a genuinely multicultural city.

“The first few buildings that we started selling in 2010 right after the down cycle, 80 to 90 percent of my buyers were from Argentina, Venezuela, and Colombia,” says Sonia Figueroa, senior vice president of development for the Related Group. “Then you saw buyers coming in from Turkey, Brazil, and Europe.” Related’s Gran Paraiso has drawn customers from more than 40 countries—from Italy, France, and Spain to Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, Russia, China, even the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “When we’re doing our outreach, we’re not only going to South America; we’re going all over the world.” In fact, Canada recently overtook Colombia as the country whose citizens search for South Florida real estate most often, according to the Miami Association of Realtors; among foreign buyers of Miami-area property, Canadians rank fourth. But some experts see a surge coming from the East.

“MIAMI IS AN OPEN CITY AND ONE OF THE EASIEST CITIES TO START A BUSINESS IN, AND THE PRICE POINTS FOR REAL ESTATE ARE EXCEPTIONAL.”—JESSE OTTLEY

“This is the dawn of the Asian era,” says Jesse Ottley, president of Cervera’s Development Division and president of the Greater Miami chapter of the Asian Real Estate Association of America. “I think in the next 10 years, we will see a shift in Miami, and a big part of that will be the influence of Asian investors settling down here.” In fact, the association is holding its Global Luxury Summit right here in Miami, April 21–23—expected to be the largest gathering of Asian- American real estate professionals in the city’s history.

Recently classified an “Alpha–”city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (based on its booming economy, diverse population, international trade, and vibrant culture), Miami now has the largest concentration of international banks in the United States.

“We have buyers from Norway, we have buyers from Azerbaijan, we have buyers from Hong Kong—all over the world,” says Harvey Daniels, director of sales at One Thousand Museum, the 62-story downtown tower with just 83 residential units.

The question is why. Miami has had sun and sand forever, so why in the past five or six years has it become more popular than ever before?

“Miami is the Riviera of the South and has always had that energy to it, but in terms of real estate, there is an emergence of ‘starchitects’ coming in and building beautiful monuments that you haven’t seen before,” explains Daniels, who is also vice president of development sales at Sotheby’s International Realty, which represents One Thousand Museum, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid.

Other examples include SLS Brickell, with interiors by Philippe Starck, and Gran Paraiso, designed by Piero Lissoni. “When Italian purchasers see the name Lissoni, they recognize that brand of elegant Italian design,” says Figueroa of the Related Group. “I think that’s a plus.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Miami Design District; Blue Ribbon Sushi; Paramount Miami Worldcenter; Pérez Art Museum Miami.

Of course, luring a world-renowned architect takes more than a fat paycheck. First Miami needed to build its global brand—a feat it accomplished by attracting a wide range of major events. In the last few months alone, the city has hosted the Miami International Boat Show, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, the Ultra Music Festival, the Miami Open, and many more. And don’t forget winning three NBA championships in just 10 years, hosting the 2020 Super Bowl, and welcoming the next edition of the legendary soccer match known as El Clásico. Miami is constantly buzzing, catching the eye of jet-setters from around the world. But the real game-changer, according to most observers, was Art Basel, which debuted its Miami Beach edition in 2002, adding the city to the radar of wealthy international collectors, whose private jets filled runways from here to West Palm Beach.

“Art Basel exposed us on a different level,” says Peggy Fucci, president and CEO of OneWorld Properties, the exclusive sales and marketing firm for Paramount Miami Worldcenter. “Miami was not the Miami Vice drug scene that people around the world thought it was. Art Basel brought sophistication, and every year it has grown to exceed the expectations of visitors with restaurants and cultural centers.”

But the city’s cultural development since Art Basel hasn’t just attracted scores of tourists; it has also given them a reason to stay. Institutions like Pérez Art Museum Miami (1103 Biscayne Blvd., 305-375-3000), the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, and the Frost Museum of Science, and restaurants such as Joe’s Stone Crab (11 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 305-673-0365) and Prime 112 (112 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach, 305-532-8112)—two of the top 10 highest-grossing restaurants in the country—made Miami unique. Then, New York City hot spots like Upland (49 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-602-9998), Employees Only (1030 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 786-264-3945), and Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill (336 21st St., Miami Beach, 305-800-0404) came south, adding a dash of culinary familiarity for international scenesters.

“Our culinary roots are international and ignore boundaries, and Miami is certainly that kind of place,” says Blue Ribbon owner Ken Bromberg. “One review from the early days referred to our menu as a ‘League of Nations,’ with salt-and-pepper shrimp, escargot, and matzo ball soup all happily coexisting. Miami strikes us as the same kind of city, one where multiple cultures mix and where the clientele appreciates an elevated but casual experience.”

That diversity—in the eats and on the streets—in turn helped attract even more people. “Because Miami is so multicultural, it’s very easy to integrate here,” says Ottley of the Asian Real Estate Association of America. “It’s very easy to come here and be accepted. Twenty years ago, I think a Chinatown would have been an important component, but this new, younger demographic is a lot more integrated and not relying as much on that. Miami is an open city and one of the easiest cities to start a business in, and the price points for real estate are exceptional.”

For the Chinese in particular, Ottley explains, a growing Asian student population at the University of Miami and other local colleges has helped lay the foundation: They arrive, their parents invest in property here, and families begin to put down roots. Add the Hong Kong-based Swire Properties’ development of Brickell Key and Brickell City Centre (and the possibility that the airline Cathay Pacific will soon debut a nonstop flight between Miami and Hong Kong) and the future continues to look bright. “It all begins to weave an interesting story of how South Florida will develop with the Asian market,” he says.

Gran Paraiso.

“China is a market I’ve been cultivating for several years,” adds OneWorld Properties’ Fucci. “Last year I was there five times. For us, the Chinese are our third most important buyer behind Brazil and Turkey.”

No matter where he or she arrives from, the new Miamian has high expectations when it comes to real estate amenities, restaurants, culture, and, of course, shopping. Robins, who created the Design District, knew that for it to be successful, it couldn’t be simply a place to shop.

“We’ve really worked on trying to make the Design District a place where, if you’re visiting Miami, it’s something that you have to see and experience,” he says, citing cultural offerings like the ICA, the de la Cruz Collection (23 NE 41st St., 305-576-6112), Swampspace (3940 N. Miami Ave., 305-710-8631), Locust Projects (3852 N. Miami Ave., 305-576-8570), and his own art collection as some of the area’s attractions. “We have a strong public park, a design and architecture program enabling people to walk around the neighborhood and see extraordinary installations. In addition, you can go and see these amazing global flagship stores that don’t exist in many places in the world. The Hermès store (163 NE 39th St., 305-868-0118) in the Design District is one of six in the world of a certain special category for Hermès.”

But above all, Miami is growing as a global destination because we offer life in unprecedented variety. On the beaches, you can hear dozens of languages being spoken and a never-ending assortment of topics being discussed. The wealthy can get here fast, get around easily, and feel safe. They can do business by the pool or party till the sun comes up. They can revel in the thrill of a city that seems to move at the speed of light, or lounge on a yacht and sip Champagne in slow motion. Best of all, they can brag to their friends that they live in Miami.

“These high-net-worth, globe-trotting individuals who have the funds are trophy property collectors,” says Daniels. “They collect property like they collect art. Miami is a very fun, sexy city, and they like to come here. They’re not the type of investor who’s going to keep it for a year and flip it. That’s not what happens anymore.”

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7 Rules to Surviving Útila

As part of my master’s thesis I visited the island of Útila, off the northern coast of Honduras, for two weeks in December of 2016. This was a preliminary scoping trip, executed to better understand the area and the community I would be working with. My thesis is an ethnographic assessment of the fishing community on the Cays southwest of the island. Prior to this trip, it was an area I was completely unfamiliar with. And with any research project, scoping is a practical way to better understand your setting, so you can hit the ground running when you return for data collection.

So just to clarify: this was not a vacation, it was serious business.

A sharp ethnographer utilizes a combination of literature review and experience to understand the dos and don’ts of a foreign environment. And while the island life may seem like a tropical paradise—because it is—it can also become an instant nightmare. I certainly learned a lot about the history, community, and culture during this trip, none of which is discussed here; you will have to read my thesis for that. But I can provide a slightly entertaining list of survival basics in my 7 Rules to Surviving Útila.

Rule #1: Keep to the Right, in an Orderly Fashion, and Watch the Drainage

Once you step off the boat and make your way through a line of “tourist” flyers, you arrive in the hustle and bustle of the island, Útila Town. The town contains the municipal dock, the airport, and the vast majority of residents and businesses. So while it’s not necessarily a large town, it is dense with people and small vehicles. Here we have five standard vehicles: tuk-tuks, ATVs, golf carts, motorbikes (mostly what we call in America “dirtbikes” and an occasional scooter), and bicycles.

The tuk-tuk—essentially a three-wheeled taxi with no doors—is a relatively (at least, relative to the island) fast vehicle typically driven by a person with no fear; in fact, I’m certain no one driving on Útila has any fear. And frankly, I’m not sure what is more terrifying: walking on a busy road in Útila or taking one of these taxis. But this necessitates the first rule: get the hell out of the way. Just like traffic in the Americas, when you walk you should keep to the right—the far right. Furthermore, nothing is worse than the line of five tourists that needlessly walk side-by-side down the narrows of Main Street. If you choose to walk carelessly down these roads—where pedestrians do not have the right-away—you will potentially suffer the dire consequences.

But as much as you should keep to the right, and walk in a straight line, you should be mindful of the drainages. And don’t go splashing in puddles either, because like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.

Rule #2: Bring Sandals with Traction

When packing your warm clothes for the beautiful island weather of Útila, you’ll certainly be throwing in your favorite pair of American Eagle Flip Flops. Well don’t. And if you’re thinking of just purchasing a pair of five-dollar flip flops from Bush’s Market, forget it. It might come as a surprise to you, but the island is WET, and combining water and smooth surfaces with crap footwear equals disaster. Please review the following equation:

(water+slick surface)-traction=disaster

I had the pleasure of grasping the consequences of wearing sub-par footwear on the last day I spent on the Útila Cays (refer to previous photo for example of sub-par footwear). One step off the dock to the floor of my favorite watering hole and I fell faster and harder than Dane Cook’s career. Luckily my toe caught my fall against the wooden support of a chair, then turned into the stark colors of van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Which segues perfectly into:

Rule #3: When in Trouble, Ask the Locals First

Now I should preface this by specifying that this does not apply to Shark Attacks or any other serious injuries/illnesses. Simply put, the free clinic has strange hours of operation, and you had better have lempiras—the local currency—to visit the medical center. Much like second rule, I learned this from my own disgusting personal experience.

Coming from the dry state of Arizona, I had an unpleasant introduction to the tropical climate of Central America. Less than a week into my trip I obtained a large rash on my chest which proceeded to spread and elevate, with equal parts burning and itching sensation. The verdict is still out on how I began my own bacterial colony, but far removed from Útila Town I had the good sense to ask a few locals about my condition. Luckily, Elba Store on the Cays stocks essential medications and they’re generally inexpensive. Following the instructions of a good man named Dave, I took some medication, used some ointment, and bathed in the seawater for about 30 minutes every day—before my trip was over I was back to normal.

This goes for many local disturbances, including the dreaded sandfly or no-see-ums. You will undoubtedly become dinner for these feared beasts, which are single-handedly responsible for driving the first European settlers to the Cays, removed from the main island, in the mid-1800s. As the locals have told me, forget the DEET; the best way to combat them is baby oil or the local remedy sold at Bush’s Market.

Rule #4: Pack Toiletries—Everywhere

During our trip we had the good sense to lug around our Osprey Backpacks full of every-day necessities. Now, you might not have the luxury of bringing a compressible backpack complete with water pack and handy SAS Survival Handbook, Third Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere©, but whether you’re sporting a fanny pack or cargo pockets, be sure to bring toiletries.

Why you ask? Isn’t this a vacation resort with full amenities? Sure… if you plan on staying at Neptune’s. But if you have the good sense to adventure around Útila Town or the Cays, pack some essentials. Remember that this is an island: it’s wet and the sea breeze penetrates buildings. Most restaurants have what more closely resembles an outhouse, and like anything else on the island it is impossible to keep water out. Bring a small roll of toilet paper with you, because the roll in the bathroom has already absorbed all of the island moisture it can handle.

Sinks aren’t always an option either, since fresh water is a precious resource. And where you do find a sink, you will almost never find soap. So if you need to be clean I highly recommend you bring some hand sanitizer. I’m not a big fan of using the stuff—I consider myself a man of nature, germs welcome here, for what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. But even I found myself in need of a little sanitization every so often on the island.

Plain and simple, you never know what kind of bathroom you will be walking into, so the rule of thumb is: bring wipes and hand sanitizer. A flashlight isn’t a bad idea either.

Rule #5: Bring a Raincoat

Boat access means you CANNOT drive there, and you CANNOT (or in some cases should not) walk there. The majority of people reside in Útila Town, but if you have any sense of adventure you will want to make your way to the beautiful resorts along the south shore of the island or, my favorite place to visit, the Cays. If you want to get to any of these locations, you’ll be taking a small boat called a Dory. Typically, it’ll be a pleasant ride heading west with gorgeous views of the south shore. But when you’re back on the boat heading east to Útila Town, the westward wind is going to provide a bumpy and wet ride.

Simple boat etiquette is sit nearest to the back, hold onto something, face backwards, and wear a damn raincoat.

You’ll get splashed more than the front row of the Shamu Show. So put on the hood, close it tight, and bring an umbrella if you have one. Wearing moisture-wicking clothing on boat travel days isn’t a bad idea, because you’re still sitting on a hard, wet bench the whole ride over. Jeans are a big, fat NO.

As a side note, you can get rides to and from the Cays with Mr. Donald every Monday-Friday for a tenth the cost of most water taxis. Find him at Morgan’s dock—just west of the municipal dock—at 11:00 a.m. for a 50 lempira ride. Just know, he won’t be giving you a ride back to town until 8:00 a.m. the next day.

Rule #6: DO Drink the Guiffity

Guiffity (pronounced gif-fa-tee) is a traditional medicine of the Garifuna people, a mixed-ethnic group forcefully removed from Saint Vincent and placed on the island of Roatán in the late 18th century. They brought traditional knowledge with them and continued to prepare this medication, which has been adapted by the local population. Today it is made with alcohol, and you can almost always find a bottle sitting at the bar—it’s the brown liquid with all the plants in it.

And something you’re guaranteed to find out on day one: if a bar sells a t-shirt, they have a t-shirt challenge. While these challenges vary, none compares to the challenge at the local favorite, Skid Row.

Unlike Rehab and Buccaneers, Skid Row’s challenge requires a proper combination of guiffity consumption and physical activities. Don’t let this detour you; if you haven’t taken the Skid Row challenge you don’t even deserve a shirt. Guiffity might not be the most delightful beverage on the island, but it is a first-hand cultural experience of a traditional peoples with both indigenous Caribbean and Western African roots. Truthfully, this is an opportunity you cannot afford to miss out on.

And speaking of drinking, the final survival tip is…

Rule #7: Do Not Take Your $600+ Phone to Tequila Tuesdays

This recommendation comes from my buddy Bogdan, and I think it is pretty self-explanatory.

That is all for my first blog post on the Útila experience. There are more pressing topics around my research to discuss, but it is important to first grasp the basics before doing any research. Scoping is an essential part of ethnography, even if you’re learning more about what not to do.

I can’t thank the people who facilitated this trip enough, especially the Miller family for providing their lovely home, a phone (which isn’t waterproof), and their connections. My wonderful fianceé Melissa was an essential part of the scoping process; she took notes, made connections, and was sure let me know when I got out of line. And finally, special thanks to the friends I made in Útila. You will not find greater people than these island dwellers. If you visit, be sure to go to the Cays and have a Salva Vida with Mr. Herman at Cay View.

Thank you to https://anthro-post.com/about/

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