Excuuuuuuse me, Mr. Bumblebee :)

I know this happens to almost every gardener but it caught me off guard and I was given a stiff reminder..lol. While rushing in to harvest those black 4 O' Clock seeds from my plants, my senses must have been overcome with scented flowers or something, since I failed to see that the black "seed' I was pinching out was actually the tail end of a big fat bumble bee! You win some, you lose some :)
Trish

oooooooouch!

I stepped on one the other day while barefoot in the clover in the grass while moving the hose. He got me good and the stingger was still in my foot when I got back in the house.

I am still limpping on it, and it is hard to wear shoes.

I fell for you, I got the welt to prove it.
Mike

Mikepiper.
Make yourself a soda paste and put it on the bottom of your foot or wrap a slice of raw bacon over the sting and this will help with the infection.
Soda paste: Mix up some soda and just enough water to make a paste and just put that over the area where you got stung at

This message was edited Thursday, Aug 2nd 9:49 AM

I have a tip for harvesting four o'clock seeds!

Place the lid of a big trash can (or something of similar size) under the branch. Gently shake the branch, and the seeds will rain down into your container.

Blow out the chaff and you're left with hundreds of seeds, and no bees! :-)

Dave

Thanks for the tip Dave.

Thanks for the tip Coco I have been doing the paste thing but not with bacon. Thanks Mike

Great idea Dave. Never thought about that. Was always picking them by hand and it would take sooooo long to do.
Your idea sure would save time to do other things. Thanks
All My Best
CoCo

You're welcome for the tip. I used to pick the seeds off one-by-one, then the idea hit me when I was finding that half the seeds would fall off when I brushed the plant.

Hence, the idea was born! Now I have thousands of seeds.

Dave

Thousands! Boy, you are busy, counting all those little black seeds.hehe

Another tip for future bee stings,

A dab of vinegar.

Byron

Thanks Dave and Byron :)
I guess that bumblebee put me in my place...him first, me second..lol.
Trish

that's right, Byron. Forgot about the vinegar. As much as I use vinegar, that one completely slipped my mind.

That is a good idea, Dave. Sometimes I have to "wait" my turn with the bees when it comes to collecting seed.I realize they're "busy". We're like a bunch of construction workers. We each have our own work to do, but they think they own the place! I used to be really afraid of bees, now I'll wait, then give the plant a gentle, little shake and say "ok, my turn"! I get no respect...sheesh!

Dicentra
Mustard works too. It's got vinegar in it and stays put better. Wet tobacco helps take the sting out. Then keep an ice pack on it for an hour or so and the stinging will stop completely. You can also use spirits of ammonia.
Cala

But nothing is faster or closer than that rub-a-dab of damp mud right by your feet! Instant pain reliever.Be it fireants or bee stings.Pulling some weed this am and those fireants got me good.And I was NOT coming in the house hunting the alcohol or vinegar.Yea,I have some mud spots here and there sometimes LOL.. but no pain! ...Jane

Dave I used your tip today on the 4:00 but I used a bucket and that is a great tip for alot of seeds. Thanks mike