You could try planting some insect repellent plants (there is a big list on Wikipedia). The thing is really, if you have many of one plant, then the insects will find you, and easily move from one plant to the next, in what they see as a great big buffet. But if you have lots of different plants between each other, the insects gets confused, because they really just want to eat their favourite meal, and do not want to smell something they think is yucky, while munching away on the good stuff. There are many hundred kinds of aphids alone, and they all have different tastes. The ones that like roses, will not necessarily touch tomatoes etc. That, and an insecticidal soap might be of help. You could also try and catch some ladybugs. Then in the evening (where they tend to fly around less) you can place a bag over an infested plant, and release them in there, and see if they won't discover the feast you have laid out before them. Then remove the bag later on as gently as possible, so they don't get disturbed.

Oh, it's definitely trial and error. I've spent the past 17 years working the kinks out of growing flowers (perennials, mostly... there are actually a few that seem to thrive here), and this is my first year with a kitchen garden. Our adult kids finally moved out a few months ago (love 'em to pieces, but they're in their early 20s. It was time to go!), and that seemed to free up a fair amount of time, space in the house and yard, and money for us. So I bought myself a little greenhouse, along with frost blankets, row covers, etc. to extend our season out a bit. Hubby built me 3 nice 4' x 8' raised beds, and I started a number of the edibles early indoors. Now I have strawberries, lettuces, carrots, onions, a sweet yellow bell pepper, tomatoes, sweet corn, cucumbers, broccoli, basil, and rosemary in the beds. Also a dwarf blueberry in a big pot in the greenhouse (and 2 more cultivars of dwarf blues being shipped to me now, with their pots filled and ready for them). So far, I've learned that strawberries and onions tend to do pretty well here. No problems so far with the lettuces, either, of course. The corn is growing nicely, and no complaints from the broccoli so far, either. Tomatoes can be tough here, but I'm giving it a go. I'm having trouble with a Sweet 100 cherry (think it may have spotted wilt virus, but I'm watching and waiting for the time being to see if it comes back for me... it has flowered, so we'll see what happens). And of course the pepper plant may or may not ever fruit for me. Cukes are also probably hit or miss. But I've tried to watch the weather predictions and put out the frost blankets whenever needed. Depending on how things go this year, I'm thinking I'll try peas and potatoes next year, which should do just fine. Melons are very tempting... I suppose if I get one of the early cultivars, I might be able to pull it off. Of course, we could very well get one (or any number) of our sudden summer snowstorms, hailstorms, thunderstorms with torrential rain and killer winds... and it could very well wipe out most or all of my efforts in a matter of hours or even minutes. But since we're here, and we're not going anywhere (hubby's job... no moving at least until he can retire, a good decade or so away), I decided to make the best of it and give it a try, at least. Greenhouses and frost blanket are wonderful inventions! :-)

You are having a good trip!!! A road had been opened from Banff to a small lake ringed by peaks. This area is known as 10 peaks, the scene printed on Canadian bills of a certain denomination. I do not know if they still have it, but if they do, it is worth it. During late summer, one of the ski lifts is operational. You can take it to a ski lodge for an all you can eat breaktast and a fantastic view of the valley northward. The food is plentiful and hearty. One ticket covers the ride up and back on a chair lift including breakfast. It's well worth it. From Banff, consider taking the drive north to Jasper. It is very scenic and you will pass over a contiental divide. When in Jasper, do take a side trip out to Malign (sp?) Lake. Once there, you can buy a ticket for a boat trip to a small island that is probably the most photographed island in North America. Its image has appeared on many calendars. Do not arrive too late in the afternoon because the boat trip is about an hour or more and the oerators shut down by 4 or 5 pm, so the last trip leaves the dock around 3 pm. The views on that lake are fantastic. I did not take the boat when I was there, but if I am ever there again, I will plan to do so.

At the closing sale my Borders store is having (sniff, sniff), I bought the American Horticultural Society's Northeast Smart Garden Regional Guide. I don't know how it compares to the other two books but it has information on planting, pruning, fertilizing, and caring for the environment as well as a large section on plants suitable for different types of sites -- and absolutely gorgeous pictures! I know there are a couple of books on gardening in the Washington, DC area that may be out of print now but other large metropolitan areas may have similar books available. I've also seen other books that specify "northeast" in the title. Living in the Washington area it is difficult to concentrate on gardening for either the northeast or south because we are in the middle so some parts of both are appropriate. The most important thing is not to purchase plants that will not survive your winter temperatures. There are lots of other caveats associated with plants but it does no good to worry over a plant that is sure to die in the winter weather.