Now I know where all the slugs went!!!!! In Summer 2009 we had "the invasion of the lightening bugs (fireflies)"!! Sure we had a few every year but in 2009 they came back by the thousands (really). This year (2010) they are also back by the thousands. I had slugs but not a huge slug problem 4-5 years ago. Now - only 1 or 2 slugs seen this year. We also do not spray anything on our 'lawn' to kill bugs and our neighbors have stopped Chem**Lawn service since the economy went downhill. Perhaps this is what keeps the population of lightening bugs in top form!! (BTW we do spray the veggies when needed but why spray grass??) REALLY happy to know lightening bugs are good guys!!! DL

"Soldier beetle" is a common name for a family of beetles, not a species. There are many soldier beetle species. That's a soldier beetle ("Cantharidae" is the scientific name for the family). The entire family is predatory, so not a worry for you. Nice picture, btw. :-)

Oh my gosh!! I love them. My favorites are the Tropical Amazone, Lavender Pinochio and Fulton Mackay. They are all gorgeous tho!!! Those iris are splendid!! I hope to get my iris re-vamped this year. Kinda had them laying around and so lucky they didn't die on me. Thanks for sharing, Judy

With your distaste for red Ingrid I can imagine that was bothersome! I like red... but I love the ombre pink to red stage of this rose look so much more!!! The spot two of my ADC are in get afternoon shade and I hope it will keep them in that white/pink stage for a little while longer. I have a few more that are in a hotter/sunnier spot. Unfortunately the windstorm we had knocked them around quite a bit. They may need some rehab time if they are going to make it. But at least I have two lovely little bushes that look like this right now. It looks as though they are flourishing.