-- Oleander seedlings-cover well. I just read where a 'mature plant' cannot survive below 14 F temps. --Impatiens seedlings (a few - getting impatient with the impatiens)...my guess that these are pretty tender and vulnerable-bring in or cover well. -- Herbs (potted) - rosemary-cover outside --lavender-cover outside if is a seedling. No covering if more mature --chives,cover if seedlings-none if more mature --cilantro-guessing cover well-annual-might be tender --oregano-cover if seedlings-none if more mature --In egg cartons - purple something (oregano or basil)-likely a basil-purple ruffles maybe-cover as if a tender annual --something like a four-o-clock-not sure...probably just cover to be sure --variegated creeper of some sort-might it be a vinca? If so, it should be fine. No cover necessary. If it is something that is a perennial in your area it should be fine, --delphiniums-Perennial-cover if 'seedlings' otherwise will be fine - Mums - I assume they'll be okay, but moved them to shelter anyway....you assumed right. They are very hardy and rugged! I just planted some delphiniums. They're only about 4-6" tall. Will putting leaves around them be enough (my only option for mulch), or should I try to find a way to cover them?--I think putting leaves around them should (hopefully) do it. If not the foliage might be damaged a bit, but they should come out of it anyway. What about the irises? "Mulch" or ignore? I don't have a way to cover them without touching them.---Never mulch iris...They will be fine. Snapdragon - yes, that's what it is. I have several others already planted that will have to fend for themselves. Good thing you think they'll be okay. Anything else? Anyone else have differing ideas on this. I really won't be offended if anyone disagrees. I wouldn't want to see any plants lost due to my error in judgement. Sue

Some kind of Xanthoxylum, maybe? I don't think it's the Eastern US version, X americanum or Prickly Ash, because I don't think the seeds are that big, but I could be wrong. And there are some others that are used as spices. Sichuan Pepper, for example. It's a place to start, anyway. It doesn't look like Gleditsia to me. That usually has twice compound leaves and the thorns are much bigger on the thorny ones. WW Here is a link that might be useful: Google search for Xanthoxylum

Lol....I'm laughing WITH you, Stephanie, not at you. :-) Spittlebugs were the first thing I thought of when you mentioned "black with horizontal stripes ", but you were so intent on it being a blister beetle. Two-lined spittlebugs (Prosapia bicenata) can be a real problem for southern turfgrasses much more so than other plants. I remember seeing them on hollies, for example, but never a big deal. They can infest corn. You need to search for nymphs. The control of these particular spittlebugs is a bit tricky. The nymphs, which do most of the damage, hide themselves deep in the lawn...as close to the soil level as possible. Effective control must include de-thatching (even better to prevent thatch in the first place), hands and knees inspection to make sure that there is a large population of froth covered nymphs deep within the turf. If not, don't treat. There can be two or three generations produced each year....one will be in the hottest part of the summer. If a search shows that there's a high population of nymphs (not adults), then the grass should be cut a couple of days before treatment. Control of the two-lined spittlebug needs to be done right, or not at all. Applying pesticides can wreak havok to the ecosystem of the lawn so we've got to get it right. The reason I'm blathering on about this is that they key to the control of these particular insects is getting rid of a large population of the frothy nymphs....not the adult. Making sure that the lawn isn't infested will likely result in very little problem for your corn or other plants. Though the striped adult feeds on plants, too, it's the froth covered nymphs that do the most damage.

Just bought a cultivar of Texas Ranger from a nursery in Tucson. Silver leaves and deep purple flowers. Extremely tough plant. Flowers smell like grape soda. The nursery is called "Desert Survivors". Well known. Do not know if they ship via mail. Also suggest you try Trichostema lanatum. Stunning plant. No other way to describe it. The flowers, while fantastic to look at, do not smell. Long lasting as a cut flower. The leaves have a scent to die for. Crush a few and you will fill the room with scent. They are native to San Benito County in CA and grow in poor soil on south facing slopes. Needs full sun and perfect drainage. Water every 2 weeks at most once established. 2 blooms per year if you are lucky. I have a 1/3 kill rate and that is down from 50%. Every time I plant one of these, people actually stop their cars in the street to check it out. Another tough plant for sunny areas is Artemsia tridentata and californicus. On a hot day when the sun vaporizes the volital oils in the leaves, you can smell the scent from several feet away. Both are native to CA high deserts. Have you tried Lavenders? They are pretty tough. Good luck.