Saturday, June 27, 2015

Where will you celebrate the 4th of July?

29 Fourth of July celebrations around Phoenix


Celebrate our nation's independence with fireworks, food, music and patriotic remembrances across the Valley.
Fireworks Family Night
Kids can dress as their favorite superheroes to watch the animated Disney film "Big Hero 6" indoors on a huge LED screen. There will be bounce houses, games and food, followed by a fireworks show after sunset. Church members also will perform "Celebrate America" at 9 and 10:45 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday, July 5.
Details: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 1. Phoenix First Assembly, 13613 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix. Free. 602-867-7117, phoenixfirst.org.
Independence Day Celebration
Anthem's celebration will include water slides, inflatable rides and plenty of food, including hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue, kettle corn, ice cream, snow cones and fry bread. The Rotary will have a beer garden sell margaritas. Blankets, lawn chairs and coolers are permitted, and on-site grills are available. Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. after the national anthem. Check online for traffic restrictions.
Details: 6-10 p.m. Thursday, July 2. Anthem Community Park, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway. Free admission and parking; $15 for ride bracelets. 623-742-6050, onlineatanthem.com/events.
Light Up the Sky
Inflatable rides, games and community organization booths will fill the stadium at Maryvale Baseball Park. Big Red from the Arizona Cardinals, Smokey the Bear and other mascots will be on hand. Fireworks will begin at 9:10 p.m. Only unopened water bottles will be allowed inside the stadium. Food and beverages will be for sale.
Details: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 2. 3600 N. 51st Ave., Phoenix. 602-262-6575, phoenix.gov/parks.
Cave Creek 3rd of July Fireworks Extravaganza
Three restaurants and bars are involved in this bash. Harold's Corral will offer an outdoor barbecue, mobile gaming truck, shaved ice and face painting. The Buffalo Chip Saloon will serve corn dogs, smoked turkey legs, roasted corn and snow cones. The Cave Creek Roadhouse will have balloons and giveaways. All three will offer drink specials, live music, free open seating and a view of Rural Metro's fireworks display just after sunset. Complimentary shuttles from 6 p.m. to midnight are available but limited to get partygoers around town. Carefree Resort & Conference Center (480-488-5300, carefree-resort.com) will offer discounted room rates and a breakfast buffet.
Details: 5 p.m. Friday, July 3.
• Harold's Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road. Free; table reservations are $10 for two; $15 for four; $30 for 10. 480-488-1906, haroldscorral.com.
• The Buffalo Chip Saloon, 6811 E. Cave Creek Road. $10-$30 for reserved seating. 480-488-9118, buffalochipsaloon.com.
• Cave Creek Roadhouse, 6900 E. Cave Creek Road. Free. 480-488-3300, cavecreektaphaus.com.
Salute From the Shores
Watch fireworks lakeside at Pleasant Harbor RV Resort and Marina. Bring lawn chairs and coolers and claim a spot early. Water slides, bounce houses, Euro trampoline bungee and country music from Mogollon will be featured. There will be food and drink vendors. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.
Details: 5-11 p.m. Friday, July 3. 8708 W. Harbor Blvd., Peoria. Free activities; $12 parking. 928-501-5253, pleasantharbor.com and facebook.com/pleasantharborrvresort/events.
Red White & Boom
The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce event will be at Pecos Park this year. Activities include a pool playground, splash pad, dunk tank, zip line and carnival games
before fireworks at 9 p.m. There will be live entertainment and a color-guard march, but no skydivers this year. Vendors will sell beer, shaved ice, frozen lemonade, kettle corn, nachos, ice cream and fry bread. A misted Boom! Room and the Oasis Lounge include food, drinks and other amenities.
Details: 5-10 p.m. Friday, July 3. 17010 S. 48th St., Phoenix. Free; $5 parking; $25 for Boom! Room or Oasis Lounge. 480-753-7676, red-white-boom.com.
Fourth of July Wet 'n' Wild Hike and Splash 
Combine the best of hiking and swimming at this fun summer event. It's a half-mile hike from the parking lot to Lake Pleasant, where visitors can cool off with a swim. Bring plenty of water and snacks, and wear water shoes or grubby sneakers you don't mind getting muddy. Life vests are required; loaners are available at the trailhead. And don't forget to wear sunscreen. After returning from the lake, the park will raffle off a four-pack of tickets to Wet 'n' Wild Water Park in Glendale.
Details: 9-11 a.m. Saturday, July 4. Lake Pleasant Regional Park, 41835 N Castle Hot Springs Road, Morristown. $6 per vehicle. 928-501-1710, maricopa.gov/parks/lake_pleasant.
Made in the USA Rooftop Independence Day Weekend Pool Party
Party poolside at Lustre Bar at Kimpton's Hotel Palomar Phoenix. There will be a DJ and live music, specialty cocktails, beach balls, pool toys and a rooftop view for fireworks after the Arizona Diamondbacks game July 4. Wear patriotic gear and compete for the best-dressed contest. Cabana and room reservations are available.
Details: 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday and Sunday, July 4-5. 2 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. $10 for non-hotel guests. 602-253-6633, Search "Lustre" at eventbrite.com.
Great American Fourth
Copper Sky Regional Park in Maricopa will have a water zone with wet and dry inflatables, bounce houses, a game truck, community performances and food vendors. Kids can count on being drenched by fire trucks for 10 minutes every hour. NineBall will play rock tunes, and there will be a patriotic celebration and veteran recognition featuring Mayor Christian Price and Jaime Buchholz, Miss City of Maricopa. A fireworks display will begin after sunset. A free shuttle will operate 5:30-11 p.m.
Details: 6-10 p.m. Saturday, July 4. 44345 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Free; $5 unlimited ride wristbands for age 3 or older. maricopa-az.gov.
Independence Day Car Show and Fireworks Celebration
Spiffy wheels and fireworks are the highlights of this annual event presented by Art of Noize. View more than 200 cars while enjoying drinks and food at the onsite bar and
restaurant. Volleyball, beanbag toss, horseshoes and more take place throughout the day along with a fireworks show beginning about 9 p.m.
Details: 6-11 p.m. Saturday, July 4. Victory Lane Sports Park, 22603 N. 43rd Ave., Glendale. $20 to enter car; $4 general admission for age 13 or older. 623-581-6000, artofnoize.com.
Independence Day Music Festival
There will be fireworks at Talking Stick after a July 3 concert by Wilco with Dr. Dog. Sit in reserved seats, on the grassy field or in the baseball stadium. Get pit tickets for dancing up-close to the entertainment. Blankets, seat cushions and two unopened bottles of water per person are allowed, but no umbrellas, chairs or outside food or drink.
Details: Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and music starts at 6 Friday, July 3. Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Loop 101 and Pima Road, Salt River Reservation. $25-$95; free for age 2 or younger (pit seating excluded). $10 parking. 480-270-5000, saltriverfields.comticketmaster.com.
4th of July Celebration
Watch a Rookie League baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners at Surprise Stadium. There will be games and giveaways between innings, the Nothin' But a Party Band will play and vendors will sell merchandise. Fireworks will begin at 8:30 p.m. Grab a seat on the grass of the adjacent soccer field, where That Kool Band will perform at 6:30 p.m.
Details: Gates open at 4:30 p.m.; game starts at 5:30 Saturday, July 4. 15960 N. Bullard Ave., Surprise. Free admission with canned-food donation. 623-222-2000, surpriseaz.gov/specialevents.
Bag It for Bucks
Float the Salt River and collect trash in provided litter bags as you go. Your reward for being a patriotic steward of public land will be a Star-Spangled Bucks coupon for each full bag, good for a $7 discount on tube rental for a future float through Aug. 28. Beach balls, water-balloon contests, prizes and live entertainment will be featured. KKFR-FM (98.3) and JAMZ-FM (101.5) will broadcast live.
Details: 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5; tubes rented until 2 p.m.; last shuttle bus at 6:30 p.m. Salt River Tubing & Recreation, 9200 N. Bush Highway, Mesa. $17, includes tube rental. 480-984-3305, saltrivertubing.com.
$4 for the Fourth
Visit Phoenix's 1,000-year-old prehistoric Hohokam archaeological site to get a feel of life in the Salt River Valley hundreds of years ago. Walk ruins trail, imagine how games were played at ball court and mound areas, see artifacts and let kids feel history in a hands-on gallery. Admission is $4, a $1-$2 savings for moms, dads and grandparents. A golden coupon for 20 percent off a gift-shop purchase of $20 or more (some books excluded) can be found online.
Details: July 2-4. 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Thursday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Pueblo Grande Museum, 4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix. $4; free for 5 or younger. 602-495-0901, pueblogrande.com; coupon at localfirstaz.com/independents-week.
Scottsdale 4th of July at WestWorld 
In air-conditioned comfort, find a free zone with such activities as "Frozen" land, live music, Grand Prix Gatsby-era racing on a track (age 16 or older), video-game trucks, mutton busting, bull riding, an extreme trampoline show and music and theater performances. Wristband purchase includes obstacle courses, slides, a zip line, bounce house, mechanical bull and a bungee run. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. Food and drinks will be sold. The family four-pack includes access to all activities, all-you-can-eat food and bleacher seating for the fireworks.
Details: 2-9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4. 16601 N. Pima Road. $17; $12 in advance; $6 in advance for Scottsdale residents; free for age 5 or younger and military families with ID. Wristbands are $20, $10 for each additional child 6 or older, $5 for age 5 or younger; $120 in advance for family four-pack. 866-977-6849, westworldaz.com.
Fourth of July Celebration
Dress like your favorite '80s personality and show up at Veterans Park in Tolleson for a chance to win cash prizes. Dance to music from Rock Lobster and cool off with free water slides and watermelon slices. At 5 p.m., watch contestants scarf down as much pie and hot dogs their stomachs can hold. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.
Details: 4 p.m. Saturday, July 4. 8601 W. Van Buren St. Free. 623-474-4992, tollesonaz.org/events.
Red, White & Rawhide
The frontier town will have three stages of music by A.B. Quintanilla and Los Kumbia Kings All Starz, David Cook, Matt Farris, the Electric Cowboys, Caleche Ryder and AzTex. Guitarist Chris Perez, widower of Tejano icon Selena Quintanilla, will sign his book "Selena, With Love." Keep cool on multiple water slides. Dining options include the Fourth of July Buffet in the Rawhide Steakhouse, Town Grill and food trucks.
Details: 5-11 p.m. Saturday, July 4. Doors open at 4 p.m. 5700 W. North Loop Road, Gila River Reservation. $30, $25 in advance; $19.75 each for family four-pack; free for age 5 or younger; $10 to park. 480-502-5600, rawhide.com/red-white-rawhide-2015.
All-American Festival
This blowout at the Peoria Sports Complex includes a water zone, beanbag tournament, live music and bounce houses. There will be three eating contests where challengers will stuff their faces as fast as they can with food from Sonic: tater tots, footlong hot dogs and Route 44 slushes. Watch the skies at 6:55 p.m. for a flyover of vintage aircraft. Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m. Bring blankets and lawn chairs. Food and beer will be for sale. Presented by Sears Vacations.
Details: 5-10 p.m. Saturday, July 4. 16101 N. 83rd Ave. $10; $7 by July 3; free for age 12 or younger; free parking. 623-773-8700, peoriaaz.gov/specialevents.
4th of July at Schnepf Farms
Activities include free hayrides, as well as a water slide, train rides, a roller coaster, rock-climbing wall, miniature golf and jumping pillows for $3 each. A patriotic performance at 7 p.m. will be followed by fireworks at 9. Rides will remain open until 10:30 p.m., and a family-friendly flick will be shown on a giant screen until 11:30 p.m. to help avoid a traffic jam as the crowd leaves. Watermelon, funnel cake, pie, hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled pizza and other food will be for sale at a shaded outdoor pavilion. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Queen Creek Performing Arts Center.
Details: 5-11:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4. 24810 S. Rittenhouse Road. $15 per car (cash only); $12 for ride wristbands (cash or credit card); $3 per ride. 480-987-3100, schnepffarms.com/event/4th-of-july.
Westgate Fireworks Fest
Bring the family, blankets and lawn chairs to Westgate Entertainment District. A splash pad, DJ music, games, prizes and face painting will be at Fountain Park near AMC Theatres. Bands will play, multiple radio stations will be broadcasting and there will be a beer garden at Waterdance Plaza. More than 20 restaurants will offer "grab and go" dining deals. A 15-minute fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m.
Details: 5-9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4. Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue, Glendale. Free. westgateaz.com/fourth.
Fox 10 July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival
If sharing a lakeside fireworks show in the desert with a crowd of thousands sounds good, then Tempe Beach Park is your destination. Claim your spot on the lawn to enjoy live music, rides, a rock-climbing wall and splash playground. Blankets, chairs,
umbrellas up to 4 feet long and one sealed gallon of water per person are permitted, but no outside food or drink allowed. A 30-minute fireworks show over the lake will begin at 9:15 p.m. Get tickets in advance at Fry's or online. Misted VIP seating is available.
Details: Gates open 5 p.m. Saturday, July 4. Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway. $5 or $6 in advance; $8 at the gate; $15 for two at the gate; free for military and age 12 or younger. $30-$60 for VIP garden. 480-350-5189, tempe4th.com.
Fourth at the Fountain
Celebrate Independence Day around Fountain Hills' landmark 560-foot fountain and lake. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. The bash will include a parachuting demonstration, bounce houses, beer garden, DJ music, food and beverages. New this year are a water slide and 25-foot-tall climbing wall. No coolers permitted. Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m.
Details: 5-10 p.m. Saturday, July 4. 12925 N. Saguaro Blvd. $5; free for age 20 or younger. 480-816-5100, fh.az.gov or facebook.com/fourthatthefountain.
Fire in the Sky
There will be music and eating contests, and beach balls will be given away. Hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon, snow cones, lemonade and glow necklaces will be for sale. Two additional viewing locations are available nearby for the fireworks show about 9 p.m. Bring chairs and blankets.
Details: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, July 4; gates open at 5:30 p.m. Central Christian Church, 965 E. Germann Road, Gilbert. Free; canned-food donations requested. 480-305-7500, centralaz.com/fireworks.
Hometown Fireworks Celebration
Game booths and a kids zone with bounce houses and water slides will be included in this Apache Junction party. Decorate bicycles, wagons, tricycles and mini floats for a contest. Judging will be at 6:30 p.m. with winners announced at 7 just before the band Reign-N-Country takes the stage. There will be free watermelon (while it lasts). Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. The nearby Superstition Shadows Aquatic Center will have a co-ed volleyball tournament at 8 a.m. and public swimming and wacky activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Details: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, July 4. Apache Junction High School's football stadium, 2525 S. Ironwood Drive. Free; fees apply for game booths. 480-983-2181, ajcity.net/events.
4th of July Celebration 
A kids zone with water rides and bounce houses are featured. Play checkers and eat watermelon for free, and buy hot dogs, kettle corn, roasted chicken and shaved ice. Glow sticks and bracelets will be sold by Friends of the Recreation Center, with proceeds benefiting youth scholarships. The Screamin' Javelinas will play classic rock, folk and country from 7 p.m. until the fireworks start at 9.
Details: 6-9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4. Youngker High School, 3000 S. Apache Road, Buckeye. Free; $5 wristbands. 623-349-6322, buckeyeaz.gov/events.
Republic Services Arizona Celebration of Freedom
Mesa's celebration includes an indoor memorial to Arizona's fallen soldiers, local heroes and displays of public-safety vehicles, military vehicles and classic cars and trucks. Other highlights include a 7 p.m. naturalization ceremony, a Revolutionary War re-enactment, a patriotic chalk mural and art and culture displays. At America's Heritage Lane and Independence Hall, take a civics quiz, learn about your family's military genealogy and more. Keep cool at a splash zone or with sprays from fire trucks. Vendors will sell food and drinks. Fireworks begin at 9:45 p.m.
Details: 6-10:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4. Mesa Amphitheater and Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St., and along Center Street between Second Street and University Drive. Free. azcelebrationoffreedom.org.
Fabulous Phoenix 4th
This celebration at Steele Indian School Park draws 100,000 people each year for the 9:30 p.m. fireworks show, which will last 25 minutes this year. You can bring your own refreshments, but with 10 food trucks and 30 vendors on site, options will be plentiful. No alcohol will be sold or allowed. Activities include a classic-car display, arts and crafts and interactive exhibits. Local bands will perform on two stages, and Kids World will have rides, bounce houses and a water-spray zone.
Details: 6-10 p.m. Saturday, July 4. Third Street and Indian School Road, Phoenix. Free. 602-262-7424, phoenix.gov/parks.
Fireworks Spectacular
Bands will play and vendors will sell food and drinks at Chandler's Tumbleweed Park. Although there will be no kids games or activities, a 25-minute fireworks display will be featured at 9 p.m. Blankets, lawn chairs and coolers are welcome, but no alcohol or glass containers. Vehicles can enter from Germann Road at Hamilton Street or from McQueen Road at Celebration Way.
Details: 7-9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4. 2250 S. McQueen Road. Free admission; $5 cash to park. 480-782-2735, chandleraz.gov/4thofjuly.
Butterfly Wonderland
Red, white and blue butterflies will fill the atrium and may land on your head. There will be live music, food trucks, face painting and curator talks. Visitors can take photos with the new Butterfly Princess, Miss Antoinette, and with Blue Morpho Lady, dressed like the butterfly. Wear red, white and blue for 10 percent off admission.
Details: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 4-5. 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Salt River Reservation. 480-800-3000, butterflywonderland.com.
Michael Senft and Ashley Whalen contributed to this list.Wendy Killeen, The Republic | azcentral.com 5:19 p.m. MST June 26, 2015

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Best of 2015


We are honored to have taken second place in the East Valley Tribune's Best of Gilbert 2015 Real Estate Agent/Agency Category! Thank you to all our friends, family and clients for your continued support as this would not have been possible without you.




12 plants that repel unwanted insects
These herbs and flowers can help shoo away pests from your garden and your skin. 


Lavender is among the plants that act as natural insect repellents. (Photo: Limbo Poet/flickr)
Are you an insect magnet? If you aren’t, you probably know one. Insect magnets attract annoying insects the second they walk outdoors — or so it seems.
If this describes you, take comfort in knowing that one of the ways you can fight back against mosquitoes, gnats, flies, no-see-ums and other pesky bugs doesn’t have to involve covering yourself with a sticky spray or engaging in chemical warfare. To help you enjoy going outdoors, try strategically placing insect-repelling plants in your garden or on your patio.
Essential oils in these plants act as nature’s bug repellent. Insects tend to avoid them. You can even use some of these plants to make your own natural bug repellent.
But know that simply including insect-repelling plants in your landscape will not in itself ensure your garden is insect free.
“There’s not enough research in this area to support that,” says Dr. Bodie Pennisi, an associate professor and extension landscape specialist at the University of Georgia’s Griffin campus. “The concentration of oils is not there to offer that kind of protection.”
There may be fewer insects, but no one’s done the research into how many plants, planted how close together, would be effective in repelling insects to any great extent, says Pennisi. One of the best things people can do to hold down mosquito populations, she advises, is to eliminate any standing water, which is where mosquitoes breed.
Globules on rosemary leavesFor those who would like to give the natural route a try, we’ve described six easy-to-find herbs readily available at most nurseries that are said to repel mosquitoes and other annoying insects. The smell from fragrant herbs is the result of the distribution of tiny globules that contain oils. High temperatures, for example, can cause the globules to become volatile, evaporating the essential oils and turning them into vapors, Pennisi says. The many globules on the underside of rosemary leaves (seen at right) are one of the best examples of this.
We’ve included our take on five ornamental flowers that can help keep plant-attacking insects at bay. Keeping your growing areas as insect free as possible will help your vegetable garden stay productive and your ornamental beds attractive. In addition, we’ve included a carnivorous plant that eats insects which you can also include in your eco-friendly insect barrier.
What plants are you growing that reduce your insect populations? Please share your results in the comments section. Here’s our list of 12 plants.
Herbs
Basil
Basil repels housefliesRepels house flies and mosquitoes. Plant basil in containers by your house doors and in outdoor areas where you like to relax or entertain. Basil is delicious in salads, in many pork and chicken recipes and with a variety of soups. You also can use fresh basil to make an insect repellent spray. A simple recipe calls for pouring 4 ounces of boiling water into a container holding 4 to 6 ounces of clean, fresh basil leaves (stems can be attached), letting the leaves steep for several hours, removing the leaves and squeezing all of the leaves’ moisture into the mixture. Then thoroughly mix 4 ounces of (cheap!) vodka with the basil-water mixture. Store in the refrigerator and apply as a spray when going outdoors. Be sure to keep the spray away from your eyes, nose and mouth.
Lavender
Lavender bouquets repel fleas, flies and other biting insectsRepels moths, fleas, flies and mosquitoes. Lavender has been used for centuries to add a pleasantly sweet fragrance to homes and clothes drawers. Although people love the smell of lavender, mosquitoes, flies and other unwanted insects hate it. Place tied bouquets in your home to help keep flies outdoors. Plant it in sunny areas of the garden or near entryways to your house to help keep those areas pest free. You can also use oil extracted from the flowers as a mosquito repellent you can apply to exposed skin when going into the garden or patio. The Everything Lavender website has a guide for extracting the oil and making a lavender-infused body oil. Added benefits are that lavender oil nourishes the skin and has a calming effect that induces sleep.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass repels insects like mosquitoesRepels mosquitoes. You’ve no doubt seen citronella candles in stores during the summer and read how citronella will keep mosquitoes away. Citronella is a natural oil found in lemongrass, an ornamental that can grow up to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide in one season. This grass with wonderful culinary uses is hardy only in South Florida (Zone 10), so almost everyone will have to grow it as an annual. It does well in a pot or in the ground in a sunny, well-drained location. Use its fragrant, narrow leaves in chicken and pork dishes and to flavor soups and salad dressing. Many Asian recipes call for lemongrass.
Lemon thyme
Lemon thyme repels mosquitoesRepels mosquitoes. This hardy herb can adapt to dry or rocky, shallow soil and will thrive in your herb garden, a rock garden or a front border as long as these are in sunny locations. The plant itself will not repel pesky mosquitoes. 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. Before you do that, though, it’s advisable to make sure the plant’s natural properties will not adversely affect you. Determine your tolerance by rubbing crushed leaves on a small area on your forearm for several days.
Mint
Mint repels mosquitoesRepels mosquitoes. Mint is best grown in pots rather than the ground because it spreads aggressively. Once established in the garden, it can be difficult to remove. The leaves are commonly used to flavor iced tea. The aromatic properties found in the leaves are also present in the stems and flowers. With a little work, the plant’s aromatic oils can be extracted and combined with apple cider vinegar and cheap vodka (or witch hazel) to make a mosquito repellent. Containers of mint strategically placed in the garden or on the patio will help keep nearby plants insect free.
Rosemary
Rosemary repels insects as plant and oilRepels mosquitoes and a variety of insects harmful to vegetable plants. Rosemary is available in various forms. 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. Rosemary’s oils are as delicious to home cooks as they are unpleasant to many insects. 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. Discard the remaining repellent in the refrigerator when it no longer has a strong telltale smell of rosemary.
Other herbs
  • Bay leaves: Repel flies. When you grow this plant, you won’t have to rely on the dried leaves from stores to add flavor to roasts and soups. Just pick the leaves as you need them.
  • Chives: Repel carrot flies, Japanese beetle and aphids.
  • Dill: Repels aphids, squash bugs, spider mites, cabbage loopers and tomato hornworms.
  • Fennel: Repels aphids, slugs and snails.
  • Lemon balm: Repels mosquitoes.
  • Oregano: Repels many pests.
  • Parsley: Repels asparagus beetles.
  • Thyme: Repels whiteflies, cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, corn earworms, whiteflies, tomato hornworms and small whites.
Ornamental flowers
Alliums
Allium is a broad spectrum insecticidePlants in the Allium family, such as the dramatic Allium giganteum whose flower heads adorn stalks up to 6 feet tall, are regarded as a broad-spectrum natural insecticide. They repel numerous insects that plague vegetable gardens, including slugs, aphids, carrot flies and cabbage worms. Plants that will benefit from the proximity of alliums include tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi and carrots. They also will keep aphids off rose bushes. Alliums include small-growing herbs such as chives and garlic chives, leeks and shallots.
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are famous for repelling beetles, ants, and roachesRepel roaches, ants, Japanese beetles, ticks, silverfish, lice, fleas, bedbugs, spider mites, harlequin bugs and root-knot nematodes. The ingredient in chrysanthemums that makes them so effective as an insect-repelling companion plant is pyrethrum. Because pyrethrums can kill flying and jumping insects, they are used in America’s most commonly available home and garden insecticide and are frequently used in indoor sprays, pet shampoos and aerosol bombs. Although chrysanthemum flowers can be used to make an insecticidal spray, pyrethrum can be carcinogenic to humans and care should be taken in using them in this form. Make sure you know the risks.
Marigolds
Marigolds repel many garden pestsThe scent from various types of marigolds repels aphids, mosquitoes and even rabbits. The roots of marigolds are well-known among farmers to repel nematodes, though those qualities require a year to take effect. Grow marigolds as an annual in most parts of the country, mixed in along the border of your flower beds or interspersed throughout your vegetable garden. Although marigolds are easy to grow in sunny locations, they can fall victim to gray mold, several types of leaf spot, powdery mildew, damping off and root rot.
Nasturtiums
Nasturitiums repel insectsRepel whiteflies, squash bugs, aphids, many beetles and cabbage loopers. Nasturtiums could be considered the poster child for companion planting, which is growing a variety of plants close to one another for the benefits each brings to the others. Nasturtiums release an airborne chemical that repels predacious insects, protecting not just the nasturtium but other plants in the grouping. Because many of the insects nasturtiums repel favor vegetables — tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, kohlrabi, collards, broccoli, cabbage and radishes — nasturtiums are an idea choice for planting along the edges of vegetable gardens. Fortunately, nasturtiums do not repel the all-important pollinator — the bumblebee.
Petunias
Petunias repel insectsRepel aphids, tomato hornworms, asparagus beetles, leafhoppers and squash bugs. Some people think of them as nature’s pesticide. They are popular mostly because they are available in a variety of bright colors, require such minimal maintenance they are almost foolproof to grow and can be grown in garden beds, containers or hanging baskets. Plant them in sunny areas near vegetables and herbs such as beans, tomatoes, peppers and basil.
Other ornamental flowers
Carnivorous plants
Pitcher plants
Pitcher plants repel insectsTrap and ingest insects. Pitcher plants are the largest group of carnivorous plants. These exotic-looking plants lure insects into their “pitcher,” actually a specialized leaf, through a combination of nectar, fragrance and color. Once inside the pitcher, the insect finds itself on a slippery surface with downward-facing hairs. The insect then either slips or falls into a pool of water. Once in the water, it drowns or dies of exhaustion in trying to escape, which is impossible because of the downward-facing hairs. The plant then digests the insect. Insects that most often fall prey to North American pitcher plants are ants, flies, wasps, bees, beetles, slugs and snails. Pitcher plants, which grow in bogs in the wild, need a sunny area that stays moist, generally a difficult combination for home gardeners. Growing them in pots sitting in a saucer of water is easier. However, don’t keep the growing medium too wet. It just needs to be moist.


Read more: http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/12-plants-that-repel-unwanted-insects#ixzz3dErKNtfE