If you must have organic, try a product called tanglefoot. Wrap some paper or masking tape around the trunk and spread the tanglefoot around the trunk several inches high. This stops ants, which move and protect the aphids and allows the natural predators like lady bugs to attack them. Or, you can use an insecticide that is labeled for fruit trees. Pretty sure if you stripped your leaves that they would come back but this close to summer, I would wait till the tree goes dormant in the winter. The leaves are still feeding the tree, they are just ugly.

Lorraine, I'm in the same boat. I live in San Diego and have a dwarf Santa Rosa plum tree that I've had at least 4 years. This is the first year that I've had a significant amount of blossoms set fruit (although last year I moved the tree from a pot to in the ground a bit late in the year, losing almost all of my blossoms). Some of the lower ones are yellowing and will probably fall off. I've got my fingers crossed for this year.

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.

I have to disagree with that statement, John. Aphids are perfectly capable and willing to to set up housekeeping without a single ant. Aphids don't NEED ants, but some are equipped to establish a mutualistic relationship with them if they show up. Also, ants don't need aphids, but some species have evolved with behaviors that use aphids. Of course, once a scouting party of ants has discovered some fat aphids, they'll send a memo to all of rest of the colony. Getting rid of ants is not the key to aphid control. Getting rid of the aphids is the key to aphid control. Nika's citrus could end up with a bad cifrus aphid problem without any ant influence whatsoever. Now, it IS good policy to inspect a plant that seems to have a lot of ant traffic because that MAY be a sign that piercing/sucking insects are present. Remember, too, that some ants are nectar feeders, after the flowers and not insects. Citrus flowers can be highly attractive to ants.