Ants in my Tub

[smurfchops]

I have a tub full of flowers and have noticed that absolutely hundreds of ants are now inhabiting it, they have come thru the sand on the patio and made loads of holes, when I lifted the soil in the tub, there were hundreds (so it seems) of flying ants ready for the off, as well as loads of grubs. Yuk. I want to save one of the plants which is a perennial, but how do I get rid of all the ants, as well as the ones in the patio, which was recently laid ?? I have tried talc but this doesn't get near finishing them off. And where do I dump them ?

[sinbadp]

keep disturbing the nest and digging out the eggs. When i did that they gave up.