Looking for source(s) for straw hats and mosquito netting for hats

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Does anyone know of either a catalog or an online source for quality straw hats? I've looked around my area (K-mart, Shopko, Wal-Mart) but haven't found ANYTHING.

I've also seen mosquito netting that's made specifically to fit over straw hats to keep mosquitos and gnats out of your face (unfortunately I now can't find the catalog that sells them).

Because we've had a wet Spring, both of these bugs are in ample supply around here which makes it very hard to work outside if the breeze isn't blowing. Avon's Skin-so-soft works to a degree but doesn't keep all the bugs away and I'm leery of using anything with DEET in it.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2001

Answers

Panama hat from Gardeners Supply: http://www.gardeners.com/sell.asp? ProdGroupId=14961&searchterm=hat

Still looking around for other sources . . .

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2001


Thanks, Joy.

I found one, too, but your hat is a little cheaper.

Here's the one I found:

Classic Panama Garden Hat

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2001


I rub lemon balm (Melissa) on my skin.Works for me. Need some plants? It grows like a weed.

And if your garden,the bugs,your neighbor spraying pesticides,the weather (or maybe the invasive lemon balm) really ticks you off,you can drink some of it in a tea and calm right down! Multipurpose.

You can make an infusion out of herbs that will work pretty good,if you have them,esp.if you add citronella oil to it.It was over on the flies thread.

Eat garlic.Antifungal too.Yeah,yeah,I know. So have Ruth eat it too.You'll never know the difference! Or Eat parsley to kill the garlic odor.Or there are odorless garlic pills too.

We got netting that goes over your face like a baclava(sp?)at a outdoor sports store a number of years back,so maybe check that out online.Helpful in archery season.Try an archery shop too.Used them alot when I lived up on Lake Erie.Jumbo jet sized mosquitoes and lots of them.

Nick's mom got him staw hats.I don't know where. Since she got him a bunch,I won't need to find him any unless the dog keeps eating more of them.Same dog that just destroyed my beans.He likes to eat Nick's hats. He must think that Nick is tasty.Nick better make sure that dog doesn't get too hungry,huh?

Our farm supply store had the hats last year,too.

It looks like it stopped raining,so off I go to survey the bean damage!

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2001


Gee, Jim, our Walmart's around here carry nice straw hats for around 6 or 7 dollars, in the men's accessory department next to socks, etc., got one for other half to wear on the tractor cutting and raking hay. Now, if it would only stop raining so we COULD cut and make hay!!!

The garlic does help, take at least 2000mg. a day, in two divided doses, helps for all kinds of bugs, especially ticks, which we DO have, but, we DON"T have skeeters!

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2001


Jim, I would think you could check out the fabric department of Walmart and get some tulle (like for wedding veils). It comes in a lot of different colors and is too fine for the skeeters to get through. Or you might try Brushy Mountain Bee Supplies. They sell bee veils that are elasticiized at the top to fit the crown of the hat. They also sell hats, but they are pricey. Or they were last time I had a catalog. The dollar stores here also sell straw hats. I don't know how high quality you wanted, but they would probably last a season. If you want a really high quality hat, spring for a pith helmet from Brushy Mountain. I still have a couple from when my dad was a walking postman years and years ago. They are actually cooler than a straw hat, plus they protect your head when you shred under low limbs and last almost forever. Course if you're like me, you have to put up the neighbors teasing you about going on safari....

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001


Thanks guys, lots of good advice all around.

I checked my local nursery and they're now out of lemon balm so I may have to get a cutting or plug from you, sharon. I hadn't thought of the "baclava" netting either but will definitely check it out.

I don't know why but the stores around here are AWFUL! I have had absolutely no luck in finding a hat for me. Ruth has no problems as there are plenty of foo-foo frilly straw hats in the ladies department - no plastic flowers on *my* hat THANK YOU VERY MUCH...

I DID find several nice panama hats at K-Mart today but each and every one of the blasted things was an extra large which is too big for my head. They were really nice looking and the price was right (5 bucks) but they simply were too big.

I also *really* liked the idea of a pith helmet and the bee veil. Both ideas will be strongly considered. And I can imagine the pith helmet does do a good job of keeping the sun off your face and neck, too.

Thanks again guys.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001


I was trying on the straw gardening hats at Jungs this year, they seemed confy enough, and had strings for tying it on with too, I think they had a variety of sizes (small, med. large, like that) and I don't remember the price off hand...and I can't find them in the catalogue. For some reason my computer won't call up much of anything lately or I would look on line to see if they have them there, otherwise you might try calling them up -- 1-800-247-5864

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2001

Thanks Julie.

I checked Jung's online store but didn't see anything for hats. I didn't even realize that Jung had retail stores - but I see they're only in Wisconsin, though...

I'm not sure yet what I'll end up doing. I'm going to a family reunion up in the Twin Cities in a week so I may check out the Wal- Mart and K-Mart up there to see if their selection is any better than what I have locally.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2001


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