I received a couple of calls recently about how to keep the Armadillos out of your yard. You know that an Armadillo has been at work when you fi nd holes in your yard that looks like pigs have been rooting, especially after a rain, I wrote about this last year.

The solution is to sprinkle sulfur powder all around the perimeter of your yard. I also sprinkle a few feet into the yard, and especially under trees or where the Armadillos have been at work.

The vehicle I use to dispense this is a Sevin duster gadget. This will have Sevin dust when you buy it. It emptied it out and used it for the sulfur. Sulfur will also get rid of chiggers, ticks and fleas in the yard.

I also got a call about how to get rid of gophers. On this problem, I used poison peanuts, rat poison, gas and many other things that did not work. I had these critters working over my entire yard. I finally tried this method. I use moth crystals and cut hair I get from the beauty shop. Just dig a small hole in their burrows about a foot apart and put the guck in. They may be back in a small spot after several months, so just use the method again. I now have grass growing where I have chased them out. Sulfur may work on gophers, also I have not tried it yet.

My yard is beautiful. The hardy phlox are almost in full bloom and the lily bed near the storage shed has been spectacular these few mornings. The lily blooms do not last long, but I enjoy them when they are all in bloom.