Ya - I've pretty much gotten over my squeamishness about squashing bugs! Can't say I'd squish a tomato hornworm bare handed - it would probably arm wrestle me to the ground, they're so huge, but anything else is toast if I spy it in time! I've been examining the leaves and stems of my plants and haven't seen anything yet. Anyone know the last SVB date, kinda like a last frost date? I did plant two more squash that are just putting on some growth now in case my first two plants got hit, but I'm not sure when the "danger" is over for this critter, if it ever is! Lisa

Thank you Fetters. Really good post. Quite timely for us as DH has suggested putting in a garden pond. My first question was, "What about the mosquitoes?" I was intrigued by the mention of Lemon Eucalyptus. E maculata sounded somewhat familiar so I assumed we call it something else down here. I googled it and this is what I found. E maculata is known as Spotted Gum or Honey Gum (good for bees). E citriodora is known as Lemon-Scented Gum. And there is a hybrid E maculata citriodora. Recently these particular gums have been reclassified from Eucalyptus to Corymbia (useful to know in case the nurseries change the labels). I debated whether to mention the next bit. In some areas they are getting a reputation as an invasive weed. It's hard to know when such a reputation is truly warranted. (I have some birch trees, which are most definately not indigenous to my area, and I do get seedlings coming up, but after all these years my birches haven't taken over the nearby bushland. Or is that because they have no chance against the Patterson's Curse, which was once an introduced garden flower.) I suppose all I can say is do some research if you're thinking of planting one. Perhaps conditions in the areas of the US where they are grown are such that they are happy enough to grow okay but not so happy that they get out of control. And the good news is if you change your mind after you've planted one, it apparently makes really good timber. Hello OzOrganic. Sorry to hear about your landlord issue. Don't get me started on that subject. Hope you find a solution soon.

Bee Awesome: You've probably seen them and not recognized them. The thornless varieties of honeylocust are among the most popular street trees planted nowadays. They have sparse fern-like compound leaves and look leggy. Major selling points are they are VERY salt tolerant, their sparse foliage means they are easy to plant under, and they tolerate being planted in tiny squares in sidewalks. Not known for flowers, and actually not great nitrogen fixers. You are probably thinking of Black Locust. (Which is a GREAT nitrogen fixer and invasive species) There is a theory that they evolved to use wild horses to spread their seeds...but then the early Native Americans hunted horses to extinction in North America. Nothing still extant and native to North America really likes their pods, but their pods are full of sugary goo that is believed to be trying to attract something. They sucker...if you post in a local regional forum you can probably find someone who will let you dig up unwanted suckers. What kind of locust? Thornless Honeylocust on the Tree Guide at arborday.org

Our fish follow us around when it's time to eat too....I find it amusing that fish can be so tame.LOL! Larry gets in the pond sometimes if the hose comes off the filter and they all gather around him like little puppies!I don't think we're overstocked,we have 3 kois and 11 goldfish. I'd like some Butterfly Koi but don't think I should put snymore in there.Hoping for some babies! I did have some fish disappearing in the smaller pond,either the neighbors cat or maybe the grackles.I had 3 other Kois and they just disappeared.And when we started,we bought about 40 feeders,never found any bodies,so don't know what happened to them for sure.I have 11 left. Wow! I didn't realize fish would live that long.Mine are about 3 or 4 yrs old now.All but the one that was born here,I just saw him this year so maybe he's a last years baby that hid til this summer. I have to get them some Cheerio's,the one bar here has a pond on their patio and that's all they feed their fish and they are beautiful.They have 2 Plecostamus that are HUGE,they bring them in in the winter though.Plecos can't take cold water.Even though it doesn't get bitter cold here,it's still to cold for them. I do want to get a Water Lily next summer...have to hide it from the Kois somehow.I had two this year and they think it's great fun to take them out of the pots and toss them around! LOL!