Ann, I posted here in 2006 pictures of some of my RRD rose bushes in Delaware County, Iowa. I ended up removing approximately 16 rose bushes. I did not know what it was and it spread to all or virtually all bushes in the rose bed and to two more rose bushes in a bed two feet separated. In 2006 I also had my first spider mite infestation in 17 years of growing roses, and the heat that summer was incredible. I also contacted Iowa State Extension Service. They also had RRD at Reiman Gardens in Story County (Ames), Iowa in 2006 in approx 8 bushes. They told me that they did not know RRD had gotten as far north as Delaware County when I called, but the pics I shared also led them to believe it was likely RRD. Incidentally, I care for roses in three locations separated by a mile in our town, and the bushes at the other locations never caught RRD from my gardening tools. In fact bushes in the same yard located 60 feet away never caught it. It did travel about 25 feet to a bush across the driveway from my main rose bed. I cut one branch of something that looked like RRD out of an otherwise healthy looking bush 2 weeks ago. I didn't let the condition develop so who really knows for sure. About one month ago I cut some odd looking growth from a bush 60 feet away from where the RRD roses had been. But that rose bush was very stressed so don't know if it was an RRD precursor or just stress. Both bushes appear to be fine now. I think the heat has something to do with RRD's spread. This year has been very cool. And to let you know I went against your advice and in April 2007 planted in the bed I had removed RRD roses from in November 2006. I have had no recurrence of RRD in that bed. It is not that I didn't trust your advice. Planting rose bushes is an addictive behavior for me. I am amazed at the difference between my mature rose bushes and immature two year fledglings.

Janie you have quite the mystery going on there! I think bluejay is a good guess for several reasons: 1. They aren't fussy about nesting sites, so they wouldn't object to a hanging basket. 2. They will use the nests of other birds 3. They will eat eggs of other birds 4. Their eggs are a shade of blue The cardinal couple may build another nest nearby, especially if they discover you are providing one of their favorite foods (what type of feeder are you using? They prefer to eat on a flat surface like a tray (or the ground), not on the perch-style feeders). They have a couple broods a year I think. They love safflower seeds too, which are more $$$ but the squirrels hate them, so if squirrels are a problem, spending more on safflower seeds might make sense (unless you have chipmunks, who love safflower! LOL!) There must be lots of egg ID sites out there, but I'm including a link to one I've used (I didn't see a bluejay egg at first glance, but it might be there someplace). Patti Here is a link that might be useful: Egg IDs

Dennis had a cardinal in love with the image in the mirror of his work truck last year. So, when ever he was driving in the area he decided to leave bowls of sunflower seeds on his hood. One day it was raining, and he left the seed on his truck seat, it was a light drizzle so he left the back slider window open. When he went back to the truck, there was the bird on the front seat eating seeds. Dennis stepped away from the door, and the bird hopped up to the back window and flew to a nearby shrub. He spilled some seeds on the ground for his new pal before leaving. He also left loose seed in the bed of his truck. That bird hung with him and looked for his truck every day for months after that. He said it was like having a quiet little assistant on the job!! He never bothered the mirrors again. Try leaving some seed, they think the image is a possible mate or threat.

My mother and father were Depression era babies and packrats. She's gotten so much better over the years. Started after my father died and she had to go through all of his stuff. It was ugly. She says that she'd never want to do it to someone else! She is now constantly reorganizing and throwing crap. She also does the leftovers into smaller tubs thing. It's scary. She also washes out Ziploc bags. Makes me insane. She treated all of us kids like human garbage disposals, as a result, most of us have had weight problems. Me? I throw 80% of it out. I ask myself if anyone will actually eat it. If they won't, I toss it. I started composting this year, so I throw all of my fruits, veggies and the like in there. I'll end up with free compost by the end of it. It helps with the guilt! LOL But I will say that I had a moment that taught me a lesson. I was staying at my mother's house and had a toilet overflow problem. Water kept running and wouldn't stop. I called my BIL and we sucked water out of the carpets for hours. In the process of the 'flood', it ran into some closets. One of them used to be mine as a kid. I pulled everything out of the bottom of it and tried to salvage what I could. And you know what I found in the very back farthest corner? A blue fuzzy slipper that I had in fifth grade. Somehow it got behind some boxes. That was the beginning of the end of my packrattishness. I imagine myself getting hit by a bus. I ask myself, "would I want anyone to know that I own this?" LOL THAT helps to motivate me!