Comments on Vanilla Garlic: I Prey for Help Gardening and This is What I Get

The mantis is most likely some kind of totem for y...

2009-08-09T10:58:37.864-07:00

The mantis is most likely some kind of totem for you. They teach stillness, balance and bring intuition.

You may have a male in your garden if it is not eating whatever is eating your min.

These creatures freak me out too. How lucky we are...

2009-07-26T22:06:25.173-07:00

These creatures freak me out too. How lucky we are they are not the size of, let's say, a cat, right?! How scary would THAT be.

You are hilarious!! This story made me laugh so ha...

2009-07-24T13:59:31.740-07:00

You are hilarious!! This story made me laugh so hard. You've got a new fan of your blog. I love your writing style and posts. I don't know how good mantis actually are for gardens, but spiders and I have become friends. I used to get so frustrated to go out on my patio and see their webs everywhere. In fact, I used to kill them when I saw them on my patio, but now I respect the little creatures and we have an understanding. They protect my garden. Ladybugs are good to for the garden.

Love the descriptive mantis story. Great piece of ...

2009-07-23T17:57:29.249-07:00

Love the descriptive mantis story. Great piece of writing. Sorry to hear that your mom did not believe you. Does she now?

I had a fabulous garden when I lived in Sacramento...

2009-07-23T10:07:32.861-07:00

I had a fabulous garden when I lived in Sacramento and I put praying mantises there intentionally! They do eat bad bugs, but sometimes good ones too (like small butterflies). I liked how they would turn their little heads to look at me... but you probably don't like that since they seem to have something against you. ;)

Holy cow, I had no idea that a praying mantis bit....

2009-07-21T04:53:10.041-07:00

Holy cow, I had no idea that a praying mantis bit. I don't think I've ever seen one before, but I'm afraid I'm gonna run away like a little girl if I see one now!

You gave me a wonderful laugh/procrastination brea...

2009-07-17T07:34:37.885-07:00

You gave me a wonderful laugh/procrastination break! Hilarious! Perhaps now you have made peace with their world...

This is an awesome post. Miss you!

2009-07-16T11:28:49.112-07:00

This is an awesome post. Miss you!

Wow. I've been picking up preying manti all my...

2009-07-14T15:29:55.062-07:00

Wow. I've been picking up preying manti all my life. I love them, have never been so much as scratched by one, and am glad to have scores of them in my garden.

So you better watch out next time you're in my backyard, Garrett! They might Come For You...

;-)

Your traumas notwithstanding, very funny post. On...

2009-07-13T15:37:49.696-07:00

Your traumas notwithstanding, very funny post. On what may be attacking your mint, I had the same problem and am in Sacramento as well. In my case in turned out to be small (1/2 inch) caterpillars that only feed at night. An organic solution that has worked well for me is BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray. Hope that helps.

Too fuckin funny Garrett! Sometimes the f word is...

2009-07-11T12:28:38.107-07:00

Too fuckin funny Garrett! Sometimes the f word is the only way to express oneself. It's just a word.

Praying Mantis' eat bad bugs AND good bugs. They don't care what kind. They do latch on with their claws, and that could hurt a bit. Also, if they think your finger is a big fat worm, and they are hungry, they might go for it. I wonder if it your "power insect?" I've seen a couple on my squash leaves.

Agree with PatrickB. You must be legendary in Man...

2009-07-10T23:26:11.185-07:00

Agree with PatrickB. You must be legendary in MantisWorld, Garrett.

i have read your blog for months now, but this is ...

2009-07-10T20:34:47.595-07:00

i have read your blog for months now, but this is the first time i'm commenting... and it's all because of that pesky PM (praying mantis). so even though i feel for you, i am so thankful that you had this story to share! ahahahaa! i had no idea they bit! now i'm going to by hyper-careful anytime I'm around one of 'em.

I have to admit that I had a hearty laugh over thi...

2009-07-10T11:18:21.016-07:00

I have to admit that I had a hearty laugh over this. I have never heard of a preying mantis biting a person before!!
Hope that he eventually starts helping out your mint.
PS. I think fuck is appropriate in this (and many other) situation...

Now you've got me paranoid. I've never wo...

2009-07-10T10:59:07.838-07:00

Now you've got me paranoid.

I've never worried about the multitude of mantises around my property. There's usually one guarding my front door in the evenings. Now, I figure its just waiting for the right time to attack.

Garrett, Mantis' are a gardener friend. Even...

2009-07-10T08:55:42.306-07:00

Garrett,
Mantis' are a gardener friend. Even yours. It looks like earwig damage to your mint, the mantis' are probably getting their fill of those nasty creatures!

Wow, you've been attacked by more mantises tha...

2009-07-10T02:21:04.035-07:00

Wow, you've been attacked by more mantises than I've ever even seen in person. I didn't even know praying mantises attacked people. Your accounts of the attacks are funny in that only-funny-because-it-didn't-happen-to-me way. I don't like bugs in general, so if those things had happened to me, I would hate mantises as much as you. Also, I like the swearing in the post. I feel that it adds a sense of realness that would be lacking otherwise.

I have never heard of a mantis attack, but am seri...

2009-07-09T19:32:56.968-07:00

I have never heard of a mantis attack, but am seriously still wiping my eyes after laughing so hard at your attack stories (sorry). Too funny.
PS- tell anonymous to stop hiding behind "anonymous". If you are going to criticize someone, have the guts to sign your own name! It's too bad.... blech!

Lol! I know your pain is terrible, but that is h...

2009-07-09T17:49:16.566-07:00

Lol!

I know your pain is terrible, but that is hilarious! They've always been so sweet to me.

Good luck with the mint muncher. If worse comes to worse, puree some garlic and hot peppers, add hot water, and spray on mint. Just be sure to wash the mint well before using.

We should all be proud of you for getting close en...

2009-07-09T16:41:37.857-07:00

We should all be proud of you for getting close enough to take some great photo's. i hope ur baby mantis does indeed help out with the mint...

omfg ... tears streaming down face ... cannot brea...

2009-07-09T16:17:13.668-07:00

omfg ... tears streaming down face ... cannot breathe for laughing ... oh, man, sorry for laughing at these obviously traumatizing events, but this is too frickin' funny ... I loved it!

If it makes you feel better, I got to kill one and...

2009-07-09T15:24:14.423-07:00

If it makes you feel better, I got to kill one and dehydrate it for a microscopy class. ;)

Thank you. I just got my ab workout for the week ...

2009-07-09T14:20:25.171-07:00

Thank you. I just got my ab workout for the week laughing so hard.

ohmygawd - too funny! although I have tons of the...

2009-07-09T11:52:27.239-07:00

ohmygawd - too funny! although I have tons of these creepy follow-you-everywhere-with-their-eyes buggers in my garden - I still think they are just major YUCK and I avoid them.
I have never heard of them biting anyone! Maybe your DNA from the first encounter was passed around the mantis gene pool as ambrosia that must be obtained whenever possible? Is there some sort of protective gear you can wear ?! LOL

Annonymous: I actually rarely swear in my writing....

2009-07-09T08:27:33.240-07:00

Annonymous: I actually rarely swear in my writing. Only when I need to for my point. Plus I really did scream fuck a zillion times when it happened. Sorry you can't see past that. It's too bad.