The insects look like aphids. I've never seen aphids kill flower buds, so I wonder if they are the direct cause? And the rose appears to be what is known in the US as "Banshee," apparently the same as the rose grown in Sweden as 'Minette' or Rosa suionum. And if that's the case, their buds will "ball" in damp weather, rotting away as you describe, independent of the aphids. The new book-form special issue of Rosa Mundi (journal of the Heritage Rose Foundation and available through their website) has an article on "Banshee," as well as one on old roses in Sweden which discusses this rose there.

The first plant is, I'm pretty sure, an Agave filifera (check the link). The bug-infested pair is a Portulacaria afra (elephant bush), I think, on the left, and I can't really figure out the one on the right from those pictures. Some kind of Kalanchoe, or Crassula? Don't beat yourself up about the bugs. It happens. You'll look more closely next time. As far as whether to separate: I would separate them, on the theory that if one is more easily cured than the other, then I can cut my losses and at least save the easy one. (The counter-argument is that plants that are already stressed by bugs maybe don't need the additional stress of being repotted. Use your best judgment, or wait for other people to jump in here.) I have no experience with the Portulacaria (if that is in fact what it is), though I know they're supposed to be relatively slow growers. So even if you could get a start from a leaf or a tip cutting, it might grow too slowly to be worthwhile (especially since you can probably go back to Lowe's in six weeks and get a brand new one for $3). Here is a link that might be useful: Agave filifera

The unofficial Iowa State Bug ... the Mosquito, has been absent from my yard so far this year probably thanks to the weather in June. With West Nile Disease spreading all over many cities in Iowa have spray programs. So far in 2006, my town has not sprayed my area. But last year they sprayed 3 times. Where I live I have an alley behind the house and I live on a corner lot so I get sprayed fore and aft and on the side when the trucks are out. Last year (with the spray)we had almost no lightning bugs, crickets, or dragon flies...a coincidence? However, the flies, skeeters and boxelder bugs were all over. This year the lightning bugs are back, and the skeeters and flies are hard to find. I finally found a spray that actually worked on the boxelder bugs so they are all in bug heaven now. Now, I can hardly wait until the faux ladybugs showup after Labor Day.

Nothing new here, but it is apparently a banner year for you, bugwise. Your butterfly description is similar to various nymphs and satyrs of the Satyridae family. They are not large, tend to be brown or gray, have eyespots, and fly in the odd pattern you mention. They tend to drop straight to the ground when disturbed in flight. The stink bugs are very likely stink or shield bugs. As for the other insects, photos would help for identification.