Sorry but the first rule of pest control is to - first, ID the pest. Not only are pest controls toxic, they are specific to the type of pest in many cases. Any sort of blanket pesticide, if one existed, is going to kill far more beneficial insects than it will detrimental ones. Killing all the beneficial insects in your garden can only guarantee yourself lots more pests and no garden. Each crop/food a a few pests specific to it and it is a simple thing to learn what those are. A Google search using "common pests of _______" (insert name of the vegetable) will give you all you need to know about them plus what is available to control them without harming the good guys. For example, the most common pest of cabbage is cabbage loopers and they are easy to control with Bt dust. Aphids can just be hosed off with a stream of water assuming you aren't inviting them in with excessive Nitrogen fertilizers. As to "brown beetles" - there are hundreds of them some good and some bad, so first you have to learn to know your bugs. Dave

So you can tell by looking at the plant whether you have thrips or not? You didn't see any evidence of them in my photos, yorkrose? Yes, I have had winter moths for the past four years. It is really a pain, but I keep observing to see how it changes from year to year. This year they were late, but they did show up. They weren't as bad as previous years. One year my two Maples had very visible holes all over the tree. This year I can't see a lot at all. It's even more annoying when they drop down onto plants in the yard. But on the other hand, there are lots of birds that have started camping out for the abundance of food. I see starlings especially like them and are in the trees hunting and pecking. I've seen sparrows eating them and this year I've been amazed to see Orioles hopping around in the trees eating them. So I've held off on using the BT. Right now I think with the few roses I have, hand picking and close observation may keep things manageable. I hope! [g] Kate, are there bugs that eat the sawfly larvae? York Rose, thanks for that link. I see they are supposed to feed until mid June. I've already seen a noticeable dropoff in activity.

I think hand picking or vacuuming adults, planting beneficial-insect-attracting flowers, and using row covers on the grow beds are your best options for control. The following methods of control are quoted directly from "The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control" CONTROL METHODS: Squash Bugs - Maintain vigorous plant growth; handpick all stages of squash bugs from undersides of leaves; support vines off the ground on trellises; attract native parasitic flies with pollen and nectar plants; cover plants with a floating row cover (you'll need to hand-pollinate flowers. Stink Bugs - Control weeds in susceptible crops; remove or mow weedy areas adjacent to garden beds; attract native parasitic wasps and flies by planting small-flowered plants. As a last resort, dust with pyrethrin.

Finally got my box out today, or should I give my hubby credit as he actually posted it for me today. Things are crazy as my oldest is getting married this Saturday and I volunteered to do a few projects here at home to help out. Why, why, why????? I made cookies for the cookie table and chocolate covered pretzels for the candy table, (a tradition in the area where they are getting married). Then I agreed to make little paper flowers that glue around the top of a toothpick to fancy them up. Again, why, why, why?????? The toothpicks still need to be finished and then a ton of ironing, and then the packing, and then the gardens need to have a little tlc. All before we leave Thursday morning. My husband and I did treat outselves to some dance lessons so we could be prepared. I have never really cared to dance and part of it was we really didn't know what to do on the dance floor. Can't say as we do now but at least we can fake it. Here is the DC for the box 03080660000088961649. Of course, it got hot the past few days and I wish I had gotten it mailed sooner. I am hoping for the best for the plants I sent. I did send extra so the chances would be better. Hope Amy likes it all.