Definitely the birds ate the JB's grubs. Last year was our wettest year in record, and I only killed less than 10 Japanese Beetles. When our house was first built 12 years ago, there were no trees, and no birds - my Knock-outs were covered in black with Japanese Beetles. According to Field Roebuck, the herb that is tested effectively against BOTH aphids and spider mites is garlic chives. It's very invasive if you don't cut down the flowers before they become seeds. Keeping nature in balance is the key to pest control. Chemical fertilizers throw off that balance with rush of nitrogen, and its link to aphids infestation. Plants with lacy leaves, fuzz, and many notches for tiny bugs to hide harbor spider mites and aphids. Examples are: marigolds, verbena, and cilantro. The good plants are the ones that harbor the beneficial insects (lacewings, ladybugs, praying mantis). Examples are: oregano, dill, garlic chives, wildflowers like calendula, yarrow, bachelor buttons. Calendula nectar feeds green lacewings. Lacewings give birth to larvae, or aphids lions. Here's an excerpt: "Aphids lions can consume over 200 aphids or other prey per week. There is no other better predator known to consume vast quantities of eggs and the soft bodies of aphids, mealy-bugs, spider mites, leafhopper nymphs, caterpillar eggs, scales, thrips, and white-flies. The lacewing larvae attack the eggs of most pests and, if the bodies are not to hard and fast moving, will attack the adult pest stage as well." Here is a link that might be useful: Green Lacewings as natual pest control

Following up, a few months later... Things seem to be back to normal in the garden (thanks again for all of the advice and support). Nothing dead, and even a few new creatures -- a toad (must've come over from a man-made garden pond nearby) and a bunny (an unpleasant surprise -- living in an urban area, this is our first rabbit ever, in four years!). Birds are plentiful, and we're seeing a few goldfinches come by as the coneflowers dry up. I spent the summer enjoying the garden mostly from the inside... next spring will bring a clean slate and I can stop feeling funny about being out there (and about being here). Interesting, though: Like Hyta, I had not one Japanese beetle. Not a one. And I didn't spray anything besides all-season oil for aphids. Saw this in the newspaper today about more dangers from imidicloprid, this time about lingering dangers to honeybees: "Unfortunately, we are learning that Merit has some ugly side effects, namely causing what has been called colony collapse disorder, where thousands of honeybee colonies are disappearing for no obvious reason. Now we know that any plant that is treated with Merit and has blossoms that attract bees, those bees will receive a non-lethal shot of Merit. But it will cause them to lose their ability to find their way back to the hive. It also weakens the bee's immune system so the bee usually dies of some fungus or virus. ... "We yardeners can't deal with the bee problem in agriculture, but we definitely can take a look at how we are using Merit in our own yard. Some of the most effective and popular systemic insecticides for rose bushes have Merit as the main ingredient. Honeybees will always work over rose blossoms and so are exposed to a little bit of Merit -- enough to affect them badly." Provided the link for those of you who want to read more. (P.S. Maryl, I made sure to spray my clothes each time; thanks for the tip. And Joanne, now you must forgive me. I never have any e-mails about responses to a post. Still, please accept *my* apology for not responding sooner to say it's no big deal at all. :) )

Followup and more info. The numbers are changing every second. Check this out and join in the fight. 158,167 have signed. Help us get to 500,000 Posted: 24 April 2012 Quietly, globally, billions of bees are dying, threatening our crops and food. But if Bayer stops selling one group of pesticides, we could save bees from extinction. Four European countries have begun banning these poisons, and some bee populations are already recovering. But Bayer, the largest producer of neonicotinoids, has lobbied hard to keep them on the market. Now, massive global pressure from Avaaz and others has forced them to consider the facts, and in 24 hours, Bayer shareholders will vote on a motion that could stop these toxic chemicals. Let�s all act now and shame the shareholders to stop killing bees. The pressure is working, and this is our best chance to save the bees. Sign the urgent petition and send this to everyone -- let's reach half a million signers and deliver it directly to shareholders tomorrow in Germany!

At the risk of stepping in to a bee hive.......I would just like to point out there is ZERO credible proof that the products by Bayer are in any way responsible for the honey bee decline. People looked at the uptick in CCD and it sort of matched the uptick in sales of the Bayer products and they went EUREKA!!! Hey the Nintendo WII was invented at the same time as the CCD uptick and it's sales have soared as the bees have declined..there you have it proof that the Nintendo WII is responsible for CCD!!! Ridiculous and bad science that does a huge disservice to the world. This hysterical wailing it is Bayers fault!!!! came from one flawed study and lord knows someone says something 2 people hear it and repeat it and to some it becomes fact. To add a bit of common sense, logic and just facts......CCD started before the Bayer products were ever released. Honey bee die offs are nothing new. It happened in the 1880's, in the 1920's and in the 60's, all long before that evil Bayer corporation invented this family of chemicals. CCD is simply the new catch phrase for a bee problem that has been around for at least a 100 years. Some scientists are professional drama queens and do so on purpose as drama and the sky is falling paranoia is the best way to get research dollars flowing or they see it as a way to push their far left eco agenda. in 1995 we lost 90% of our bee hives on our farm and in Pennsylvania in general the state lost over 50% of all it�s hives......nobody knows what caused it, just another die off. Before the lynch mob mentality turned it's gaze on Bayer the scientists thought our cell phones were causing the decline. Now that I have ticked off (I hope not) the bee huggers.....I love bees, we need them and we have to find out what is causing the decline. What good does it due though to blindly blame with no proof? Do good solid research and find the cause (if it can be found) THEN act.... Do your own reading and know that while the internet is a great resource people have a bias and will report what they claim are "facts" when in fact they are not but simply a reflection of their own bias. I don't use the chemical myself, I try to not use any pesticides or insecticides in the garden if I can help it and I don't own stock in Bayer. I did not write this to tick anyone off. You have to understand that if people make up their minds that Bayer is guilty they stop looking for the real cause. Now could it be Bayer's products? Absolutely..... I for one simply want evidence, real evidence based on solid science and proven methodology not theories or guessing before I for one am willing to hang them. If it makes some feel better to hang with no evidence, lynch away.