Rewilding My Lot

I was recently prepping for a shredding session (this is how I recycle annual plants to be returned to the ground as mulch). In doing so, I cut down a sunflower branch and threw it onto my shredding pile.

At that point I noticed that attached to this particular branch was a paper wasp nest with several attendants. Fortunately, I was able to cut away the part of the branch with the nest and return it to its approximate original location without being attacked. It was also fortunate that in preparation for the shredding session I was already clothed head to toe, so well protected, and that paper wasp nests have fewer occupants during the day. Here’s a photo a few days later soon after dawn with presumably the whole team.

Paper wasps serve a role in the garden for pollination and pest control, so if the nests are not in my way, I leave them. Later in the year, once the colony has completely vacated the nest, I’ll cut it down and compost it.

I think that was a win for all participating parties.