Saturday, October 5, 2013

This is what grew in my garden shed this summer.  Friends said I should get rid of it, but wasps are good for pollinating and they help with insect control.  This is the nest of a paper wasp.  
It started as a tiny nest but ended up to be about 35 cm. from top to bottom.  Now the wasps have gone, since we already had a frost here.  Wasps live only for a year, except the queen.  She will build a new nest next year.  
For more about paper wasps, the magazines  Gardens West, Gardens Central and Gardens East have a great article on it.  Go to  http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=c72643729204be7292d82041a&id=c93476f3d2&e=%5BUNIQID%5D