Don't know what it is, but I'm pretty sure it's not ladybugs. Ladybug babies are ugly little things, here is a link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccinellidae And from my understanding, LB babies are so preditory, that they would never group like that. I hope someone can help you better than I can, but I really don't believe they are LB's. If you don't have a lot, maybe it would be interesting to see what they become. Personally if I found that, I would isolate with some cheese cloth tied around it and watch, but I'm weird that way, I love seeing all the creepy crawlies in my gardens and watching their development. lol.

Poaky, hopefully your participation here on GW has provided the knowledge that fertilizer should never be considered a panacea for every plant issue :-) In many cases, unnecessary fertilization can create additional problems unrelated to the issue at hand, plus it can lead to pollution when applied if not needed, especially a synthetic fertilizer like a 10-10-10. In many cases, improper or over-fertilization will create more problems than not fertilizing at all. Like Dan stated, many of us have been brainwashed by advertisers like Scotts and MiracleGro into believing that one cannot possibly have a healthy, colorful garden without frequent, liberal applications of their product. And that is simply untrue. Plants exist and thrive in their natural environments without the benefit of MG or similar products and in many cases, those in your garden will do the same. A very rough rule of thumb is that the larger and more long-lived the plant and the longer it has been established in the ground, the less likely it will be to require any fertilization. It is important to know your soil and what it provides in the way of necessary nutrients and what your plants demand or may be lacking. Often this can be addressed by something as simple as mulching with a fertile organic mulch, like compost. Otherwise, the recommendation before the helter-skelter application of a synthetic fertilizer is to have a soil test done and then apply any needed fertilizer as instructed. But fertilizing on a routine basis - like just because it's spring - or to 'correct' various growing conditions that are not nutrient related is just not appropriate or necessary and can be counterproductive.

Dirtaddshp, 5 feet is too close for a mixed planting. It's about right for a solid leyland hedge but a hedge like that either wont be long lived, require regular shearing or all of the above. When trees are planted that close together they will grow narrower but there comes a point where they just get too big and start shading each other out. I would not recommend the arborvite. I know they are very popular in the rest of the country but there are trees that tolerate the heat, drought, and soil better. Another one to avoid is norway spruce or blue spruce. Don't forget to add in some shrubery too.

The Page is about 8 years old, the others maybe 4 bought from Harris. I got 2 Meyers, one from Walmart and one from Harris. The Meyer in the picture has just been repotted,3 weeks ago from a big container to a bigger one, it seems to be very happy. I grafted 5 Dekopons and 3 of them took. Laura, since you are a pro with lemons and lime's got to ask you a question, what is the best lime for Margarita's that you grow.