Thanks guys! Seil, I didn't think of the bloom color/ season aspect...now if my memory serves, it does usually have a bit more color than it did Wednesday when I took the pictures, so perhaps I usually see it at the beginning of summer, when it has more color. OLOG has a dedicated drip head (as do most of my roses) and the rest seem to be doing fine, so I don't think it is heat stress, but perhaps I should check the rip head just to make sure. Denise, While I have three dogs, they are miniature dachshunds, and it is doubtful they could reach that high. LOL. I also think due to the roses position in the bed, it might not be a place they would think of to pee. Claferg, I really will have to pay attention next time I head up to my mom's house in cooler weather to check the bloom colors. She is homebound and not able to take care of her yard, and really wants me to bring it down to my garden...and I am thinking about it seriously. The blooms are so lovely and delicate seeming, but borne in great clusters, so they never seem lost on the shrub. Jeri, There really doesn't seem to be any signs of gopher issues around the yard. I would expect the tell-tale mound to be somewhere, and for more than just one plant to have damage. Its such a weird instance. Do you think it would be possible to move a plant as old as that La Marne? it was planted in our yard sometime in the early 90's. It isnt a huge bush, but should I cut it back in fall and transplant it then? Veronica, Although I do love the Cuban Gold Duranta, it was for sure not that. this had some bright green new growth, but the older foliage was a good bit darker. Plus I don't think duranta grows to shoulder height. This was a huge hedge in front of the Ringling Museum of art, kept beautifully trimmed, and I thought to myself, this would be a lovely hedge background to roses. I am pretty sure the graft is above ground, at least by an inch or two. I never knew we were supposed to raise the graft above soil line, but aesthetically it just looks better to me, so I always have. LOL. Luckily I am now growing own-roots instead...much less involved. It is a pity the manure source went south, but perhaps another will come along, I finally bought an SUV and will be getting a high side trailer, so it will be easier for me to collect it as well. Thanks again guys, I have alot more to think about now!

It sounds like one of the small grass skippers. Many of them will lay on grasses in lawns like crabgrass. Just did a quick search for what skipper eggs look like and the first one to come up was for a fiery skipper that looked just like that, but I'm sure a lot of them are similar. Below is a link to pics of California skippers, but if you didn't get a good look at the adult it won't be of much help. The best way to know would be to raise it and take lots of pictures. We would all be very interested in seeing them I'm sure. Finding that tiny egg is like finding a four leaf clover! Here is a link that might be useful: http://butterfly.ucdavis.edu/butterfly/common/Skippers

Not an egg sac. Instead a harmless slime mold. Yes, I know it sounds icky. But not a problem for plants or people. Will go away on its own. If you're curious look up "dog vomit slime mold" -- sans quotes.

The second from the top photo seems to show the typical lacebug excrement. The top photo, however, seems to show more than just lacebug damage. It's not clear in the photo, but the stems show what looks like either aphids or scale. Mites are too tiny to show up well, but there don't seem to be any webs (which are not produced by all mites) present, at least that I can see. At this point in the year treatment for lacebug, except raking up and disposing of fallen leaves, is not necessary. The same would be true for aphids. Scale is another story. You really need to have a branch or two examined by your county extension service or state agriculture department. They can also recommend best treatments for now, if needed, and next spring to prevent infestation next year. The bottom photos all show the normal yellow discoloration that rhododendron leaves acquire just before they are naturally shed. The spots are produced by fungal infections, but identifying which of the dozens of types is not really possible without laboratory analysis and is not necessary. Rake up the fallen leaves as above. This can help, but most rhododendron growers just ignore the spotting on leaves that are about to fall anyway.