I got maybe 5 ladybugs in a little plastic condiment container for free from the local farmer's market last year. They came with instructions to release them at night and spritz them with Coca Cola before release. It supposedly keeps them from being able to fly long enough for them to get comfortable and lay eggs. I released them on my plum tree. A day or two later I could only find one, maybe 2 still on my aphid infested tree. But within a couple of weeks it was just teeming with ladybugs in various stages of maturity. I've seem a couple of ladybugs in my yard this year, not on the plum tree yet, but having seen them reproduce last year I know they are capable of multiplying very quickly.

So you can tell by looking at the plant whether you have thrips or not? You didn't see any evidence of them in my photos, yorkrose? Yes, I have had winter moths for the past four years. It is really a pain, but I keep observing to see how it changes from year to year. This year they were late, but they did show up. They weren't as bad as previous years. One year my two Maples had very visible holes all over the tree. This year I can't see a lot at all. It's even more annoying when they drop down onto plants in the yard. But on the other hand, there are lots of birds that have started camping out for the abundance of food. I see starlings especially like them and are in the trees hunting and pecking. I've seen sparrows eating them and this year I've been amazed to see Orioles hopping around in the trees eating them. So I've held off on using the BT. Right now I think with the few roses I have, hand picking and close observation may keep things manageable. I hope! [g] Kate, are there bugs that eat the sawfly larvae? York Rose, thanks for that link. I see they are supposed to feed until mid June. I've already seen a noticeable dropoff in activity.

After I asked about the cucumber beetle on the rose forum I found a excellent web site with every bug I ever wanted to know about, I think. I bookmarked it for future use. That was really stupid that I had my answer and asked again...I said I had headaches and used darvocet. I was asking about a spider on a rose first and then threw this out there....Some day if I'm lucky I'll find I have a brain again... I have 4 cats, 2 are 20 pounders, I don't see many birds in my yard, though I planted 5 trees for them and for shade:) The birds, not the cats, though the cats might think I put the trees there for them to catch birds in... Can't find the cucumber beetle but I believe he ate all holes in the blossoms on Angel Face, they have holes in them where they didn't yesterday. I wished I had killed him when I saw him.

Just as the leaves die back. I suppose that would be the time for you. Amazing how much variation in climate there is along the Gulf Coast. Of course you are not coastal, but I should have realized with talk of drought that you would perhaps have a drier winter too. Our winters here are rainy, foggy, sometimes around 40 but not always really cold--except last year was the worst in many years. With the sun low in the sky, it is easier to avoid sunshine on my garden--even though pecan trees lose their leaves to expose a lot of the garden area--by locating pots against fences, beneath evergreen shrubs, such as that. Yes, a saucer over the top sounds perfect, and protected from any heat. You want to keep them below 40 for as long as you can, Shaded for sure. I don't have the problem of anything being totally dry, which is a factor you must consider. I've heard folks say that they put a couple of ice cubes in the pots now and again, but haven't resorted to that here. Since your hosta in pots is a manageable number, it should be easy to keep tabs on them. Perhaps BK can advise on the dry winters....not something I have to deal with. I am amused with the image I'm getting of you going out to check your pots, picking up the saucers and asking, "How are you guys doing out here. Everything okay?"