With all the rains last month, I've barely been able to make it from the front door to the driveway without being swarmed by a few dozen thirsty mosquito colonies. They seem to be hungry day and night. I couldn't work in the yard, couldn't walk the dogs, and couldn't even walk to the mailbox.

So today I tried one of those mosquito mesh bags with a drawstring that they sell in outdoor stores. I put the mesh over my head, donned a thick sweatshirt tucked securely into old denim jeans, which were securely tucked into white socks, slipped on boots and gardening gloves, and doused myself in organic insect repellant.

It worked.

I went into the deepest, dampest Amazonian West Nile thickets of my property to remove some Bamboo. It was like a cloud of mosquitoes around me. I saw big ones landing all over me. No bites.

And I didn't need to burn down all my vegetation, pave over with concrete, or spray poison fog. The mosquito populations are still merrily breeding away. The bats, frogs, and lizards are still enjoying their buggy smorgasbord. Nature is happy. I'm happy. I look like a ridiculous crazy freak. But all is good.

P.S. My next step may be to walk around in public dressed like this.