Really nice picture of the mimosa tree. I live in zone 5 in Maine, and have several mimosas planted in the yard, but they do get alot of die-back in the winter, so I don't really think they'll ever bloom--they just come back really strong in the summer with 4-5 foot branches. However, I do have one in a large tub which is about to bloom, it's covered with flower buds now and should be blooming in a few more days. I keep the tree in the garage through the winter and bundle up the tub with an old quilt. The garage never gets below 5 degrees, so the tree survives with no problem, however, when the temps outside start to go near or below zero, I have to put a couple jugs of warm water under the quilt every day to keep the soil from freezing, but it's not that much trouble and it's really worth it to have such a tropical-looking plant in the garden. Oh, it also blooms for almost 2 months.

Yeah, that wasp and hornet spray is pretty good stuff, but they always keep a sentry or two outside the hole or hive, so you really have to be stealthy and fleet-footed, not to mention getting the spray in the right place while hanging in the danger zone until the last second. :) I ran a lawnmower over a ground hive while trying to clear some brush a few years back, and buddy, the came up and at me from all different directions. I got hit around 8-12 times before I could run inside the house...and they were still hitting the front door after it closed trying to get at me. Mean little SOB's. I wonder if there is a wasp bomb spray you csn turn upside down in the hole and set it off? Surely there ought to be something like that now.

Hi, Appreciate this posting maybe too late but have you or anyone tried using natural non-toxic solutions like tea tree oil or orange oil spraying methods? I had a similar issue last year with an infestation of Carpenter bees in one of our outdoor shacks. I didn't want to use harsh chemicals to kill off such a beautiful bee, despite being a pest for us! I did a bit of digging around the 'inter-web' and found me this little website that describes different methods (chemical & non-chemical) to get rid of the carpenter bee. Hope it helps :) Here's the site: http://www.howtogetridofcarpenterbees.com/ Also, here's a useful (viewer friendly - no adverts) video talking more about getting rid of carpenter bees

I have lost roses due to bees that bore into the stems....Unfortunately, they don't just bore into the pithy party where you cut at the top, but anyplace that they can find a way into the. The other day I went to cut a rose cane that I thought had canker.... and indeed it did, but the cane was starting to turn brown at the bottom - as well as the die back at the top - I cut at the stem at ground level and noticed a whole in the center of the pith.... I found a cane borer ---- appranetly it made a whole where a bud leaf was on the the stem..... I went and bought some insecticide that is supposed to take care of ash borers,,,,, don't know if it will work, but I am tired of losing entire plants.