Using Herbs – Page 5 – Use That Herb

“Mice Don’t Like the Smell of Peppermint”

People can sometimes be oblivious. Animals are much more in tune with their surroundings, aren’t they?

We brought home two new kitties a few months ago from the local animal shelter. At that time we had no idea that we had a mice problem. Any time a mouse gets in the house, it’s a problem for me!

Hadn’t heard any scratching or scurrying of little feet. Didn’t see any mouse turds left about the place. Nor did the dog detect anything and he’s a great mouse hunter.

The second night the new cats were here they were both fixated on the dishwasher. They stood guard and wouldn’t leave the area, so we knew something was up.

Once I heard the scurrying around under the washer I knew it was a mouse. I wonder how long he’d been visiting without us knowing.

From this book on how to get rid of vermin Natural Solutions to Bigger Pests it was stated that peppermint oil would drive a mouse away. (Also enjoyed Dr. Bader’s Natural Solutions for Bugs book.)

I knew what to do. Several drops of peppermint oil were placed on a couple of cotton balls which were then placed behind the skirting at the bottom front of the dishwasher.

Within 10 minutes a mouse popped out! No kidding. It was like the little critter couldn’t take the smell any more!

Too bad for the mouse but the house cats earned their keep that night. They played with the poor thing all night as it was still alive in the morning. The cats let it live until I tried to collect that mouse, then they killed it. I finally put a cup over it and a stiff piece of paper under it – junk mail is good for something after all! – scooped it up and took it outside to be thrown in a ditch well away from the dog’s view out the window.

Peppermint Essential Oil with Dropper and Cotton Balls

It was amazing at how fast the mint odor affected the mouse hiding under the dishwasher.

I was hoping the smell would make it leave the house the way it came in, but no. The poor thing was doomed once it came out from hiding.

We’re leaving a few of these peppermint oil-soaked cotton balls around places where mice may enter the garage or house.

If you’re having issues with mice, try the peppermint oil trick and let us know how it works for you. Amazon offers Pure Organic Peppermint Oil Spray in a spray bottle with dropper, similar to what we used from a craft supply store.

Cilantro is a versatile plant. It provides us with both an herb and a spice, and it is a beautiful addition to any garden. There just isn’t another herb that is as pretty as it is tasty.

The tiny white flowers occur in small umbels that are grouped into sets of larger umbels. The presence of the compound umbels tells us it’s a Parsley Family member.

As it grows the cilantro plant, Coriandrum sativum, takes on different leaf shapes so it is an interesting plant all the way around.

Lower leaves are wide and deeply lobed and rather robust compared to the leaves that appear higher up. The upper leaves being more deeply cut into thin linear lines make a wonderful backdrop for the dainty flowers. The flowers are held a foot and a half or two off the ground.

Cilantro Leaves Vary From Bottom to Top of Plant

We use the leaves in salsa, with beans and potatoes, and on Mexican-style foods, like tortilla wraps, quesadillas, tacos, and anything else with salsa. Chop up a handful of leaves on a cutting board and add to salsa or any fresh tomato dish.

Cilantro has a very bright, clean taste. Not sure how else to describe it!

Either the flowers or the fresh scent of cilantro attracts many different pollinators like bees, wasps, ants, flies, butterflies and beetles.

Cilantro Flowers With Ant and Longhorn Beetle

(Photos taken 23 June 2015. Click photo for a larger image.)

Collect seeds to save little coriander spice once the flowering is done. Or let the seeds fall to the ground to start another generation of deliciousness.

Repel Mice With Essential Oil of Peppermint

Cilantro Spices Up the Herb Garden with Tiny Flowers