Then THAT'S the answer!! I actually saw a sharp-shinned hawk a few weeks ago (first time I'd even seen one in our woods -- I was very pleased to be able to identify it). I didn't see this altercation until the two birds were "wrestling" in the snow and I'd have sworn it was one of the mourning doves atop the jay, but your theory makes much more sense. Whatever it was definitely carried the jaw off -- poor jay (and I don't love jays) dangling by its wing and squawking frantically. They both dropped into the snow (for a better grip?) a short ways from my garden, then took off again and only by chance (or an extreme fight by the jay or maybe, my frantic yelling??) did the jay get released. The jay flew back to our pine tree and seems fine. Is that possible? To get hauled off into the hair, hanging by one wing, and still live to tell about it? Amazing! Just curious, how large a prey will a sharp-shinned hawk take on? What about a small cat? Do I need to worry now that I know there's a sharp-shinned in the area? (My cat goes out midday, never out for long ... maybe I'll keep him in?!) Thanks so much for the information -- I am positive you are right. Now I feel guilty for blaming the doves... :(

Excellent site for discovering pests, and problems. Leafminers, and mites seem to be the ailment for my tree. Here in SoCal they've just quarantined a large area for Queensland Fruit Flies. Had the Ventura Ag Dept come out just to make sure on the Psyllid.

Another option if you want to keep the sawfly larvae at bay is to spray a strong stream of water at and under the leaves of the plant. You can also spray insecticidal soap which is considered an organic control that mostly won't hurt the good bugs. It won't help the leaves that are already eaten, but new leaves are more likely to grow in without the damage. As Magpie says, it won't likely hurt the rose in the long term just look unsightly for a while. Sawflies tend to lay larvae at times of year like now and it naturally fades with the season. Also, if you don't spray anything chemical the "good bugs" will come to feast on those larvae and create a natural control for the rose. This approach is called "integrated pest management" and in my garden I call it "Lazy Gardening" (in the best way). I never get around to spraying anything most years or doing anything about bugs and after a few years the nasty bugs mostly disappear. I haven't had aphids in my yard in about 12 years until I had to be roseless for the last two years (long story), and for the first time ever I'm having to squish aphids and spray water until the ladybug larvae and other good bugs catch up. I'll be back to having no aphids again in another year or two I expect. You need to have food for the good bugs to keep them coming to your yard to do your work for you, so if you can stand the look I'd just ignore it. Cynthia

Hi Kaseki - i noticed a lot of your (insightful and super helpful) posts over the years. wondering if i could pick your brain on my vent situation. lmk. literally and figuratively billowing in fumes! ;) jane