The Walmart type (99 cent) feeders were available at Lowes today.. They are expensive now, $ 6.98 for a two-pack, and marketed as 'Planter Hummingbird Feeder' by Garden Treasures. There are small shepherd's hooks for putting them into hanging baskets. I picked up two packs just in case they disappear again. The part number is 0147614.
I managed to disturb a nest of yellow jackets while pruning a shrub. Before I realized it, I was stung badly all over, but my right hand and arm got the brunt of it. I might have to stay home tomorrow if the swelling doesn't subside, as I don't think I'll be able to drive or do anything at work. I was terrified that our dog would get bitten but he ran indoors in time.What an end to the day!

Priya
Zone 7, Maryland

Priya,
Do you have any meat tenderizer around the house? If so make a paste with water and apply it to the bites(papaya extract will work also). If you have access to jewelweed, the sap from that will take the sting out of those bites also. I know exactly what you are going through. Yellow jackets are nasty little bugs. I trapped a whole nest of them last week in a bush with a bowl of strong sugar water and a drop of soap. They flew into the bowl and didn't fly out. They were preventing me from getting near the test tube feeders so I had to use extreme measures. I have been stung more than once and those stings are not fun.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Pryia,

I can feel your pain, I was stung by either a wasp or Bee Saturday and my leg is swollen and angry. I think I bumped into it and that's why it bit me. Up until now I had been living peacefully side by side with them.......

I think there was a post earliy in the spring about the Lowes, inflation!

Pam NJ 6B

Thanks for the tips, Penny and Pam. It was very painful,and is getting better slowly. I called the doctor since I was worried about an allergic reaction, and am taking Benadryl and Tylenol. I will go gather some jewelweed now. They came up out of nowhere. I will spray pesticide around the area I found them.

Priya
Zone 7, Maryland

Priya--- I also feel your pain as I have been stung by those nasties too. My mother used to make a paste of baking soda and water and seemed to work pretty well. Its amazing I havent been stung with all the wasps I battle day in and day out as they are very aggressive around the food source even to each other.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

Priya, I saw the two packs at a Fred's store in the Spring. I think they were about $4 or $5. One sting is painful enough, I can't imagine how bad multiple stings must be. I believe yellow jackets nest in the ground. My brother disturbed a nest last year while weed-eating and was out of work for a couple of days. An aquaintance of mine said that a Sharpie pen will draw the poison out of any kind of sting if applied immediately. I haven't tried it because I never remember to put a Sharpie in my pocket. I wish I had the other day when I was bitten by a fire ant. Take care.

Linda
ne AL
zone 7b