They're common when you're growing veggies in the nightshade family. They'll also create a ton of damage in a very short time. Yes. They're very difficult to see. Especially when your plants are fully grown. That's why I start spraying BT about a month after I put my transplants out. Every 2-3 weeks, whether i see damage or not. It brings me great peace of mind to not have to worry to walk out one day and see my tomatoes or peppers ravaged. Where did it come from? hawk moth or sphinx moth, depending on which variety. Apparently they're out at night, adults and caterpillars. That's another thing about "seeing" them. I can barely see one in full daylight because they blend in so well. The only time I've ever found them is by accident -- never when I was actively searching. Another note -- if the BT doesn't get all of them, it's because they're a bit older and larger. In that case, try spinosad, more effective at the larger ones. But Spinosad will harm beneficials, like bees. So, wait until dusk to spray it. Good luck. Kevin

I think June is the prettiest time in my garden. It is so lush then. Everything is still growing but has not grown so big as to be untidy. The only thing fading is the early spring blooming bulbs, but even thier foliage is still green then (and sometimes there are a few tulips still clinging on to see the grand show going on around them). Some of my favorite flowers bloom in June. The Iris are saying thier goodbyes, the peonies are in thier full glory, and the roses are making thier grand entrance onto the garden stage. I love the colors that happen during June too. I say 'happen', because Chance and Mother Nature were the ones that organized it and help me tend things. Everything is rich jewel-tones; the trees a deep emerald. But then it gets hot and I begin to get fatigued with all the watering. The plants are still pretty, but will wilt and the drop of a hat. The foliage on earlier blooming plants is browning and must be cut back. I must keep up with the veggie garden. Arg! Some unknown creature is attacking the roses! I often get dissapointed with the flower colors in summer. They are bright, hot, and don't care how they look next to thier neighbor. There is no rhyme nor reason for when or how they bloom. People say my garden looks great in summer anyway, but I still say June, when the dew is still heavey on the fragrant peonies and Mother Nature has not yet left for her cooler summer home! CMK

Campanula , here are some seedlings from those that you have. and some that are no shows right now. Well the first is not a seedling. These were probably germinated last spring or early fall. The Ipomopsis rubra is eye level with my 5.6" stature. Some are much smaller. It depends on what soil it has its feet in. The white road is a sample of the caliche soil base that is under the the little bit of granite sand and compost amendment that I used here. We are having a wet spring and that washes the caliche level and DOWN HILL. It is in-between toe squishing out there. Rarity in the Hill country. I can say that my soil glimmers silver under the full moon. 2'one in not as amended soil. They do like sand. Here are some seedlings , I hope this helps you. I love finding seedling shots when I am doing the seedling dance in the wild..F The first one is Conoclinium havanense. OH GOD, they have taken the name out of the Conoclinium classification and put it back in the Ageratina family. I collected it as this and then it became a Eupatorium , and I was just getting used to this Conoclinium spelling and I could no longer find it on google search under it . SO I throw my hands up in exasperation. The complaint about common names is that there are so many common names well I have a few complaints about the changeability of scientific names. The LBJ had it listed under Conoclinium when I sent you the seed. LOL. Now, I find it by searching the common name. Were is the rationale for scientific names now.. Anyway here is the little bugger. The seedling is still the same guy. Here are 2 seedlings of the Dalea aurea. One popped up in late fall and the little guy off to the left side just came up not to long ago. Here is a foreshortened long shot of Dalea purpuria that came up in late winter. Sorry not good pictures . Here it is stretched out. Long and skinny. I am tempted to nip it but I will wait. What do you think. It is the first time I have grown this from seed. I bought a plant and planted it and this is the product of it.

Birch are a favorite host to different types of scale insects and asphids, both of which produce a sugary sweet excrement called honeydew. Many types of ants feed ravenously on the honeydew, which might explain their large numbers on your birch. Unfortunately, some scale species are very difficult for a novice to identify and since they suck plant saps rather than chew holes in leaves, their damage may go unnoticed. Large numbers of ants would be a warning sign for me, blue. If I were you, I would find someone to inspect the stems and small branches of your young birch for scale insects. Or you could take some stem pictures for me, in focus. No treatment recommendations unless the pests are actually identified.