Summer in Minnesota. Enjoying the beautiful lakes and woods, and activities like boating, camping, golfing, fishing, and so much more in our great state.

One of the things I like to do is sit by the campfire and look at a magnificent star-filled sky. Unfortunately, many of the activities listed above can be ruined by the un-official State Bird of Minnesota: the mosquito!!! After a wet spring and summer, they are ferocious and can chase the heartiest Minnesotan right back into the house. I know there are bug sprays that work pretty well, but I’m one of those that hesitates spraying on a lot of DEET.

Recently, my nephew showed up at the lake as we were getting ready for the campfire, and shared a new all-natural bug spray from a company called Buggins. I thought about other sprays over the years that people claimed would work in keeping the mosquitos away without containing DEET, but they really didn’t work that well. Anyway, I gave this Buggins Natural Insect spray a chance and put it on. First of all, it had a vanilla scent that I liked right away, and it went on like an oil, not greasy or sticky. The best part, however, was that it really worked! The mosquitos left me alone by the fire, and I did not have to re-apply after an hour or so.

I was thoroughly impressed by Buggins bug spray. I found out later they make three different kinds of bug spray, specifically for different kinds of pests including gnats and ticks.

Here’s the only problem. My nephew found this spray in the Twin Cities, and I have not been able to find it here in the lakes area. Has anyone seen this product in the Brainerd lakes area?