It is this scale that is the reason why bringing roses, even cuttings, to Europe Requires strict quarantine procedures! We just discussed this yesterday in a thread on the Antique roses forum: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/rosesant/msg041508595127.html?20 I did not know the name of it, just that it was rose scale that had been causing much damage in the Huntington Botanical Rose Garden, and is the reason why even trained rose nursery men do not want to have any thing to do with importing roses from California to Europe. So thank you for showing the little critter. I have heard that horticultural oil is the way to get rid of them. I am not sure what is causing the other problem. Could it be a deer , looks like it to me. Is there any footprints of these on the soil?

halloblondie, you've got a nice start to your gardens--and don't worry--one of these days, you'll look around and realize you have a "mature" garden. If it's any encouragement, I like to joke that when I moved into this house back in the early 1980s, all my back yard had was weeds and sunshine. So I immediately planted a couple trees in strategic spots along the western property line--so there would be a little protection from that late afternoon "killer sun" that my zone 6 garden has to endure. However, I have to admit that the previous owner was evidently a talented gardener herself. I still am growing some of the plants (peonies, daylilies, hydrangeas, iris) that she left me, although they have been moved around a half dozen times or so since then. I basically started with the two garden beds she had and kept expanding them a few feet more --a little wider here, a bit longer there--and now, thirty some years later, those beds cover most of my back yard--which is fine with me since I have no use otherwise for a backyard. We will enjoy watching your gardens expand over the years also! : ) Cynthia--I had trouble getting the larkspur started. For two years I threw seeds all over the back garden and would just get a handful of rather pathetic looking larkspur to grow. So I started ignoring them, having given up on that project. Well, that handful of larkspur threw their own seed at the right time and by winter, all sorts of tiny larkspur plants were growing. At first I thought they were a new kind of weed, but getting behind on my weeding, some of them grew large enough that I finally realized they were larkspurs! Since then, I do nothing except when I pull out the plants after they are done blooming, I do shake a few of the plants over spots where I'd like more larkspur next year. They are now so busy re-seeding themselves that by spring, I will have to pull nearly half of them out so they dont' choke out some other desirable plants--but there's always enough left that I get a natural show for about 5-6 weeks in late May and most of June. Here it is July and I still have a handful still blooming out there--but I think this is probably their last week for this year. Siberian Iris--that's easy. They are tough and super cold-hardy--hardy down to -40 degrees! Gorgeous spring bloomers, no diseases, no care. You might be confusing them with Japanese or Louisiana irises that have greater water/moisture needs and probably don't like the sun as much as other irises do, but other than that I think they are all very cold hardy, but I've never grown Japanese or Lousiana irises, so I cant' say for sure about them. However, my mom grew Siberian irises in South Dakota, so I can swear by their cold hardiness. I treat them like I would any other perennial--no additional fussing at all. You do plant them in full sun, don't you? You must try them again sometimes. Sun and not too much water. That's about it. Now, as to Princess Diana clem--mine is always just barely making it. I think that western sun tends to boil mine. I had no idea she was a thug elsewhere. Have you got some pics of yours? I was afraid I'd lost mine during an exceptionally cold winter we had a couple years ago, but she is creeping back again--so I'm guessing it is the hot summer that is harder for her to handle. To all the other posters: I'm so enjoying all the gardens. So many different styles and combinations--and they all look wonderful! Kate

I had one of those a few years back. I used it to keep the squirrels from eating my tomatoes before they were ripe. Mine lasted years. And after that the shelving lasted even longer. I used it later (after giving up on tomatoes) to harden off my seedling trays (I say harden off, but i really mean acclimate to the harsh Florida sun) after starting them indoors. For $10 you cant beat it. I paid $50 for mine about 7 years ago.

I love those pictures lindalana! Your Teaspoon is huge and cute! Thanks nshosta and Don. Dhaven, you have provided a wonderful list! Madplanter, thanks for adding to the list! And look at this list! I tried my best to put it all together---for myself and for others. It's amazing---thanks to all! Allan P. McConnell Appletini Baby Booties Baby Doll (really cute! Maybe unstable?) Bedazzled Blue Jay Blue Clown BME (I forgot about BME too. I have it!) (x4) Cameo Cheatin Heart (x2) Clown's Collar Cracker Crumbs (x2) Crumb Cake Curly Fries Diamond Tiara Dinky Donna (x2) Dinner Mint (x2) Extasy Feather Boa Flamenco Mouse Flash Forward Frosted Frolic Funny Bones Gemstone Golden Needles Gracillima Green Mouse Ears Hands Up Hush Puppie Hyuga Urajiro (x2) Ice Cream Itsy Bitsy Spider Kabitan Kikufurin Ko Mame Ladybug Lakeside Dot Com Lakeside Lime Time Lakeside Little Missy Lakeside Looking Glass Lakeside Lollipop Limey Lisa Mary Marie Ann Mighty Mouse Mini Skirt Munchkin Fire Nakaiana, Ops Paradise Sunset Purple Lady Fingers Pure Heart Ruffled Mouse Ears Stiletto (x3) Strawberry Yogurt Surprised by Joy Tea and Crumpets Teaspoon (x4) Trifecta Venusta Woodland Elf Vanilla Cream Wylde Green Cream Smalls recommended: Royal Tiara, High Society, Grand Prize, Rainforest Sunrise (x2), Blue Jay (small, but not tiny, a real beauty), Faithful Heart, Hideout, Ivory Queen, Rainbow's End, Coconut Custard, Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, Paisley Print (a beauty!), Remember Me (especially gorgeous in early spring), Ripple Effect, Marilyn Monroe (gets to be 26"), Raspberry Sundae, Gypsy Rose, Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, Paradise Island, Tiara Series and Sultana. So what did I chose? And you can imagine how hard that was! For the larges: Amalia (who could resist Donna's photos?) And Ooh La la. I have never been able to forget that one ever since seeing it at a garden tour. I don't think its a good grower, and I haven't seen anyone posting photos of it. But I just got to try it out for myself. For the smalls I got: Stilletto, Lakeside Down Sized, Hush Puppie, Mini Skirt, Church Mouse, Hyuga Urajiro and Curly Fries. Some of ones on the list were not available or sold out unfortunately. I wanted Teaspoon (sold out)! I love the list and I will use it when shopping again for smalls and minis. I had to really stifle myself and not purchase all that I wanted. I began purchasing minis last year and had a few losses so I am not feeling very confident in my ability to grow them.