Fire ants make mounds and not holes. The mounds start out small and become larger as the colony population increases. These mounds look rather innocent until you disturb them, and ALL of the ants boil out of the mound all at once. Again, there is never a discernible hole. I never worry about ants in my yard and garden, other than fire ants. Fire ants can be a problem for humans, pets, bird nests, beneficial insect eggs and larvae, and such.

floral, Asclepias syriaca can be a prolific spreader; the other varieties are much better behaved. Kathy and the OP, If these are indeed milkweed, don't get rid of them all, as they're the plant (the only plant) on which Monarch butterflies lay their eggs. http://monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs/campaign/the-details/

Ed......they're still kicking. In the 2nd pick, it's raining. Water makes them scatter. I posted in the Garden Clinic...per Julias suggestion. I'm told they're pollen beetles. They don't seem to be causing any damage to the foliage....just really ugly! I can dump them out of the flower blossoms and throw them away....seems to be the most organic means to their "end".

Those are aphids. If you don't use insecticides, natural predators such as lacewings, ladybugs and hoverflies will show up later and reduce populations. Meanwhile, if the aphids are overwhelming the plant, you can knock them off with your hands or a good spray of water. Your young Ping Dong Yue Ji rose would benefit from a good shower. The water will also wash off the aphid's sticky "honey dew" that can attract ants. The white objects are aphid carcasses. I don't worry about aphids as much as I used to. I want the beneficial insects well fed so that they will reproduce and take care of the thrips that arrive later in the season.