THANK YOU, Zeedman! Yes, I do have quite a few ladybugs around. Not swarms, mind you, but I figure for every one I see there must be loads more I don't. I hate to admit I've been squashing these poor things, ignorant of who they really are. :( I Googled the Seven Spotted ladybug (the one I usually see) for more photos and yup, there's no question. I've also had the pupae all over my parsley lately. Gosh, I need to leave them alone then, eh. I just wish they'd stop eating my defenseless beans! Here is a link that might be useful: Larger photos of a pupa and larva

Oh, those guys are dreadful. I live in fear of the day they work their way down to us here. I have read good things about Milky Spore, but it takes several years to take effect. Bucket of soapy water is the first line of defense. Also, pay attention to when they are there and when they are not. My sister in Tennessee says they leave her area around mid summer. If you can figure out when it's safe, plant then.

Hi Yennie. I had a similar problem this last year with the three tomato plants that I tried to grow in the ground instead of in containers. Something, and I never saw what, ate completely through their stems. Whatever it was never touched the leaves. I would just come out in the morning and an otherwise healthy looking plant would be on the ground with its stem chewed through. I've never seen a slug here, but have had problems with cutworms. But if cutworms were to blame, you'd think some leaves would be damaged as well. Anyhow, I think there are a few posts about it on my garden blog linked below. Here is a link that might be useful: Container Gardening in the Desert

Hi runerat: Thank you for the info about the fragrance being lemony sweet. The best yellow rose that match the scent is Golden Gate by Kordes, described in HMF as "Golden-yellow. Moderate, citrus, fruity, spice fragrance. 55 to 60 petals. Average diameter 3.25". Medium to large, very full (41+ petals), cluster-flowered, in small clusters, cupped-to-flat, ruffled bloom form. Tall, climbing, upright. Large, semi-glossy, medium green, leathery foliage. 5 to 7 leaflets. Height of up to 8' 2" (up to 250 cm). Width of 39" (100 cm). http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.39721 There's also Lemon Meringue climbing rose, but the scent is fruity and spice. which doesn't match your lemony sweet scent. I lean toward Golden Gate due to matching citrus scent and the dark green & glossy foliage. As to leaves in holes, there are 2 culprits: rose slug or leaf-cutter bees. But leaf-cutter bees leave a clean circular cut, and less damage than rose slug. Rose slug leaves brownish/grayish discoloration, and messy holes. I stopped using molasses to fertilize since it attracted rose-slug. Your pics. look more like rose slug damage than leaf-cutter bees. Agree with Neem oil. See below link: http://www.marinrose.org/fastfacts-roseslugs.html " Elimination: Hand pick and spray off with a strong spray of water Use neem oil or insecticidal soaps being sure to spray both the top and undersides of the leaf Use horticultural oil when they are first attacking - will work and is a very safe alternative Any contact or systemic insecticide labeled for use on roses will kill the roseslugs, particularly those that contain cyfluethrin."