Deebs, I have 5 trees planted, 2 in the back, but it'll be awhile before they get large enough for the birds to nest in them. They used to use my large climbers too. With all the cats they'd have to make them up really high. One is a redwood though hitting close to 20 feet tall now, not as easily climbed so maybe. I can't distinguish really between all the worms on the roses, most eat holes through the buds and eat the roses, others the foliage too. I'd like to think the ones I miss are eatting aphids:) Duchesse, they tried to petition the subdivision owner on the claim they didn't know the ponding basin was going to be there. That's a lie, I went through the same process they did to pick the house I wanted. It was right there on the site plan and the layout. In fact we paid extra to get a larger lot to be sort of behind it, about 20ft. They bought their houses knowing that was behind them, they were all sold at a premium price for that much yard. They wanted the basin filled in. Won't happen, by city law there has to be a basin at each new subdivison for the water to go when it rains to help on flooding. The only activity I ever see at the basin area is a couple times a year they come through with a tractor and take out all the weeds. The basin is home to mud ducks and others and geese off and on all year. I like to hear the honks and bullfrogs over dogs barking anytime. I think some of them walk around and squish them on purpose. I saw one of the neighbors vacuuming them up with one of those shop vacs one year. These are all relatively young people that have never owned a home before. They have no idea what they're suppressing and the price they'll pay. They just want to complain about nature. This was a walnut orchard and home to all the birds in the past. I imagine there are so many toads because nature is responding to the masses of white flies. I imagine over time the number will diminish especially with all the poisons/chemicals they'll put out on their yards and bushes. Sorry, pet rant:) I've admired your roses and gardens Patricia, I'm only resistant because they've already ruined those roses, I can't reclaim that now. It's too late. That one rose in the pics above is Irresistible, a mini. There isn't a bud that doesn't look like that. I found 14 ladybugs on it yesterday. The white looking bush behind it is a floribunda hitting over 5' tall for size on this rose. You can barely see the canes behind the redwood even taller. This was last night and these bushes just don't photo well for me in the sun and not enough light, but it gives you an idea of how large. I did try the flour on some of them yesterday skipping where the ladybugs were. That was almost as much fun as blasting with water, some were startled into flight. Some washed off easier, but others are crammed into every nook and cranny of the buds and leaves and new growth. It irritated the bees, lucky they don't like me:) As far as Murphy's Law goes, I was too pleased with early spring and all the healthy looking bushes. I was last year too and spider mites devastated them about this time. So, yeah you better knock on wood, LOL* I know what you're talking over on the Hover Bees but I think they're called something else, Deebs, still I have all different colored ones. Dark green, light green, stripped not stripped. This one had stripes too, from last year's infestation:) I have a terrible memory so if I find one of these, I kill them. Thanks for all the help, I do appreciate all the advice and thoughts on this. Patricia I may yet resort to that spray.

Yes, it will damage the lilies because they need to keep their leaves/stalks until they die back naturally to feed the bulb for next year. Here is what I did the other day for aphids, got the recipe on the antique roses forum. Also you can jet them off with the hose, that might ruin the blooms (you didn't say which part of the plant they were on). Mix one teaspoon of liquid dishsoap with one quart of water in a regular spray bottle and give it to them good. They should turn black and die in a week (don't know about flying ones). I didn't know about that when they were bothering a few roses in late spring so blasted them off with the jet on the hose and hand picked the rest. But I sprayed my phlox just about 5 days ago where they've appeared (must be low on ladybugs around here because they're supposed to take care of aphids when they come in early summer) with the solution, and they have disappeared. Didn't have to repeat but you can daily. I'm surprised Sevin didn't zap them. Did you use 2 fluid ounces per gallon? Also Bayer Advanced Rose and Flower Insect Killer says on the label it's for aphids. HD was out of it so I ordered a bunch online because it works on Japanese Beetles. But here is the caveat. It kills bees. Now I haven't seen any bees in my lily blooms, just flies and occasional Jap beetle. The product contains imidacloprid and has a residual effect that lasts up to possibly 30 days. That will disorient and incapacitate bees days later. So be careful if you decide to try that, comes in a 24 oz ready mixed bottle, don't forget to shake. I forgot to shake my Sevin concentrate. I'd try the soapy water first, then if they are still creeping you out, try the Bayer. You could cut off the blooms but don't cut them down except as a last resort. My Bayer is insurance if the JB's swarm here shortly, and I only intend to spray plants that aren't blooming (cut the buds and blooms all off my roses until the beetles are done).

Contact the services of a professional. An ISA CERTIFIED arborist will know how to effeciently and effectively treat your tree for aphids (and mites, probably). It is not likely that you will attract enough ladybugs (in your lifetime) to get rid of a major infestation on a relatively large tree. There are soil treatments that you can apply yourself but knowing how much to get the job done is the key. If this tree is as valuable as you say, then it is likely worth investing in. That's my $0.02, given the information you've shared.

I haven't been on the forum for quite a while and come back to find a thread that's quite useful to me~~i've had what i've been calling an infestation of wasps(paper???)on a Live Oak this weekend. There must be aphids also, as when I left my car in the drive when I came back from San Antonio this weekend, and went back out to it a couple of hours later, it looked to have a slight sticky spray of some sort all over it, out door light fixtures also. I'm assuming it's the aphids all of you are talking about?? I haven't had a 'close inspection' of the tree because of the wasps, but should I leave both the wasps and the aphids, and let nature take it's course since the wasps use the aphids as larva food? This is all so very enlightening. Thanks roselee! ;o)