Actually, believe it or not, this brilliantly colored, daytime active, thin bodied insect is a MOTH, the adult of the Ailanthus webworm, Atteva punctilla. The Ailanthus webworm is a sub-tropical insect that has spread north following the introduction of an "alternate" host plant, the introduced invasive species Ailanthus altissima, that has spread throughout North America. (Since the Ailanthus tree is not native to the Americas, while Atteva punctilla is, we can say that the moth has "adapted" a new host.) Further, Atteva punctilla is not adapted to survive cold winters, so apparently a population flies north each year to seek the abundant leaves of the Ailanthus trees. Since Ailanthus is generally considered undesirable (it has bad habits, like spreading into a huge thicket by runner roots, and producing a toxin that interferes with growth of other plants in its vicinity), the Atteva punctilla might be classified as a beneficial insect, although it doesn't do enough damage to seriously impact the Ailanthus. There are hundreds of images of this tiny but photogenic insect on the web. Here are a few: http://www.bugguide.net/node/view/1762 http://entweb.clemson.edu/museum/moths/local/moth16.htm

They're full of seeds but they'd be a hybrid (MS x some other rose in my garden). ... Tho, i just checked and this rose is likely protected under its 2003 patent. So propagation is a no- no either way. I got my rose from northland rosarium. I think they propogate by cuttings, so you might get the same rose i have. I don't mean to be a smarty pants and I apologize if you already know this...but black spot can be helped by not watering the leaves of your plant, providing air circulation by not crowding it in tight spaces or dense garden jungles and picking off or raking up any black spot leaves. It's easy for me to give advice though- we have very low humidity so it's easy to cure any that starts up (forinstance if i leave on any last seasons dead or ill leaves, it gets going on those). As far as pruning,- it tends to stimulate healthy new growth.... i dont know how sparse your plant is, but you might try cutting it down by 1/3 now. Alternately, If you dont have leaves down the plant, maybe just prune a portion of the worst looking canes down to 2 feet (2/3rds). If your plant responds well, bring the rest down. Or next year bring the whole plant uniformly down by half to 2/3 in spring. David austin (the father of English roses) recommends pruning a second time in summer in warm climates ( beyond deadheading) As well as doing the first pruning in spring. I generally find (tho i am just a hobbiest gardener) that modern roses respond well to pruning in most cases (tho, maybe not past late summer as you dont want to stimulate growth when it should be getting readybto go dormant??) I think most modern roses can become overgrown duds if never pruned. ...So you might find pruning improves things (as well as proper fertilizing!:-). But don't just take my advice- If I was you, i'd ask the forum for advice on renovating your overgrown shrub now. Then You'll get a variety of experienced viewpoints- from differing climates ...then you might choose the most relevant experience to follow. I find the warmer climate gardeners (LA and such) have their own experiences that don't always match the cold climate experiences- (especially pruning) though overall, they all have great input with regard to rose quirks and habits.

The bird isn't too successful. It just make the geese really angry. The geese in my area aren't as aggressive. They don't seemed to register me as a threat, but they take off when my neighbor's yellow lab (we don't have a fence and he's welcome to run in my yard!) comes by. When the coyote comes by, they run to. The situation is temporary, once the reeds grow up, they stop coming because it becomes difficult to take off.

What a great family activity - I hope you are able to continue your checklist. Since you are in Central Tx, you may have seen a Golden-fronted woodpecker. The males have the red spot you describe. Good find, if that is your bird. Perhaps others will have another possibility... Candy