There are so many 'woolly' critters that I forget them from year to year. I'll have to brush up on my ID skills! These surely look like one of the woolly aphids, but I wouldn't swear to it. It's not like any mealy bug I've seen. (What's your location, by the way?) Insecticidal soaps applied to the pests will help in control. Read and follow directions of the product you purchase. Your spider is not harmful to your plants or you. Spiders catch the other insects. This one has some growing to do. Have NO idea what the last little guy is! He's cute, though.

I already started some new seeds after washing everything in bleach solution. Had to toss out almost all of the opalka, eva purple ball and san marzano to prevent further spread of the problem but thankfully there still is time. I also sprayed the other seedlings with safer soap last night and so far they look good. I believe I got the aphids from miracle grow soil mix. I always clean everything thoroughly before starting new seeds so I know it isn't anything from inside the house. Definitely won't go for that mix again. So Dave you think it is the aphids? That is actually much better than what I expected. I was totally thinking that it was some kind of bacterial/fungal problem and I will be doomed this year.

If it were rhubarb, those could have been chicken eggs. But on mint, perhaps a moth of some kind. Your best bet is to put some eggy leaves in a jar with an airy covering and wait for them to hatch, post more photos.

Nah, I won't throw in the towel because of a few pests - I won't let them bully me ;) I too have found it to be relaxing & a stress reliever, even if it may cause a stroke, lol! Plus I have lots of paper wasps/parasitic wasps, bumblebees, songbirds, etc, to take care of the pests. I do, however, need to find some native plants to attract more as well as plants to keep pests at bay. Being a beginner at roses, as well as having a certain mindset that they are difficult to maintain (as my mother always said but I'm overcoming), I've been babying them, need to let nature do its thing & sit back to enjoy my work thus far. I do thoroughly enjoy everything that comes with it: pruning, dead heading, making my own trellises, I even enjoy watering :) Thanks for the encouragement & input; that's enough to keep me moving forward! Nic P.S. I've checked for pests today & found nothing, but would've let them be if I did ;)