If it's (nearly) perfect semi-circle or almost full circle, the sizes of dimes-quarters then probably the Leafcutter bees. You can cover with the ugly cheese cloth to prevent access to your leaves. Native to this area of central CA, the recommendation is to ignore them as they are beneficial for pollen transfer. I manage to spot them quite a bit now that I know their appearance. They look like skinny flies (not bees) and their coloring is black/yellow but appears reversed, if you do manage to catch more than a glimpse. They hover, move very quickly, then hover; their movement is unlike typical bees, wasps or flies, but similar to hummingbirds. I struggled with them for 2 spring/summers in a row when I transplanted a small lilac from a neighbor's to my home. The tree was already severely stressed with much root loss. Then they tore up *every* leaf that set. Two years in a row was more than the tree could take, it never set another leaf and is dead. I wouldn't call them "harmless" ;-) Later that year, I removed a wood pile in my yard and lo-and-behold I found many "nests". They were creating nests in the small dado grooves of wood used for drawers. I found bunches of my lilac leaves rolled up in the grooves, made into little nesting chambers. Since I removed the wood, I haven't seen but a few since. The new lilacs in the same spot are flush with leaves and no sign of damage last nor this year. I also have 20 new BB plants. Maybe it's the weather or something else, but I'm sure the high-density-living complex wood pile made it easy for them.

I have at least two hummers visiting my "humming bird station" (a hanging basket with petunias and "million bells"; humming bird feeder, blooming Monarda). Such a joy to watch them! Yesterday, I saw these two fighting... Hope they both will return, I am ready to refill the feeder as often as necessary. Congratulations on your new arrival!

Once again let me express my sincere gratitude for all particiipation, especially significant to me now that I've had my question treated with quite a bit less respect from other sources. Here's the update. I didn't trouble the Massachusetts Historical Society because they have already overindulged me on other issues and I am portioning out my demands from them. I did however email an entomologist at Harvard and the results were embarrassing and unproductive. In the subject line, I had written "An entymology question." It's not like I don't know how to spell "entomology" but I used to write an etymology blog (I'm that kinda word-nerd; Hey, did you know we have two words for food sheep/mutton, pig/pork, cow/beef etc because of the Norman invasion in 1066?) My mnemonic device for remembering was that "entomology" has the n like "ant" does, whereas "etymology" doesn't. I guess I shall have to append the mnemonic so that "o" is for "Oh!" while the "y" is for people who ask WHY. Anyhoo, she responded with the cutting one-word answer "ENTYMOLOGY??" as if it were such a grievous error that you'd imagine Thomas had asked Lady Grantham out to noodle catfish. The rest of the request was error-free, as was my query about whether my typing-fingers inertia born of the word "etymology" would disqualify my question from consideration at all. Apparently it did. SO. Another bug expert I asked says that Carolina Mantids go no further north than New Jersey. I'm gonna trust y'all that he's off on that since you gots your noses right in where it counts, and while I'm tempted to give you his contact information, I shan't, out of polite taste partly, and partly to pay ammends for all the evil thoughts I had about settin' them nonymous kids (b/chan) on the Harvard lady. None of this would be kind or professional. So as it stands, I'm looking for two things: awesome late-Autumn ant action or some validation on the mantis-on-hummingbird assault, but only if it was a Carolina Mantid and only if it could happen in late fall. And you know what this is about? An aside thing a guy sees while eavesdropping on a legal hearing. Why do I bother? Anyway, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH ALREADY!!!!!!

You know I'm a sucker for your yellows. Would love to find the color of Yellow Monkey on a sunfast full petaled daylily. It's outstanding.....We have hummers here too. Most years not too many come around, but this year we've had 4 or 5 of them (all females so far). Our region is Ruby Throated Hummingbird territory. Do you know what species you have there Edward?.....Maryl