Correct me if I'm wrong, but it would seem that even if the soap (I just use a tiny squirt of basic dish soap in a 1/2 gallon of water) only killed the aphids and left the larva alive, it would still be bad for the larva. Ladybugs lay their eggs on aphid-infested plants for a reason - so that their larva have a lot of food in their least mobile stage. It seems like if I killed off all the aphids, the ladybug larva would starve - I can't imagine they could move quickly enough to find another food source. There was a bit of finger crossing in the decision to leave them, though...

I've always liked Old Blush, but I never respected her or given her the honors she deserves. Then we had that very late freeze two years ago just after a late Easter. My gardens were hit hard as buds were on all the roses. After the three day long hard freeze, most of the roses had bad damage. Climbing Old Blush (also a she) looked pretty good on her exposed situation up on the arbor. Her buds weren't frozen and some even opened with the most pitiful paler-than-usual pink petals. But when CL OB accounted for 100% of my rose blooms in late April, she earned my admiration. Then she kept blooming through the year. This past winter, we had temperatures that did not get above freezing for over three weeks. We've had colder periods but for much shorter time frames. This year, again, CL OB and her shorter OB kin will be the first to bloom after the early yellows. Modern roses should have been bred to retain this strength. For now, though, I'll just be thankful for the Old Blushers.

Yes, good points Susan - a little bit of light peeking through a shrub seems to add some depth, as opposed to a solid mass of leaves and branches. And for sure the trunks can be sculpturally beautiful. I'm glad you have had good results too. But how do you make a small tree look like a large shrub? Terrene, the willow grew new sprouts off the trunks for a year or two but they no longer do. Now I just do a few maintenance trims from time to time. Particularly if I walk under it and it hits me in the head. That is not allowed and since my clippers are always in my pocket it is a swift and easy correction. I suspect the amelanchier will grow some new shoots and suckers and it seems like I ought to allow a couple of new ones each year, just to keep some new growth going. But I'm not sure yet. You are lucky to have a Cornus alternifolia. I think those are so pretty and useful, but I don't think I could keep one happy here. I didn't realize they had berries too - bonus! Lilac do seem particularly tricky, don't they? I've seen all kinds of pruning techniques. But for sure you do want some of those fragrant flowers within reach, good point! Yeah for a girls' weekend in Ennis! I bet that was all kinds of fun! :)

As long as the hole in 1 1/2, that Starling shouldn't be able to enter the box, so yes, he will probably give up and leave. I had one land on one of my boxes once. The Male bluebird came STRAIGHT at it and flew after it for a little then drove it to the ground. Ours blues can still put up a fight! I've even seen my bluebirds take Tree Swallows to the ground! More than once. Other than the DRST, a BB gun would probably be the only way to end them. I have a BB gun, but it's not sighted the best, and my hands are really unsteady. But Starlings are larger. The problem is, if they recognize the gun, they'll take off! Good luck! ~Tim~