That's a hairstreak caterpillar, probably that of the Gray Hairstreak butterfly. Your picture is too washed out for an accurate ID, but the Gray Hairstreak is one of the most common of hairstreaks and often use corn as a host plant. Ive never heard of these caterpillars becoming a pest, but you might want to remove those that you find. Ants are wildly attracted to them, including fire ants. You do not want fire ants in your corn.

Not worth keeping. Non-native privet, also known as Ligustrum.

tampaart --- Your tree is still looking very nice. billbrandi --- In your title you asked for ideas so I am going to say what I would do if it was my tree. BTW, I did plant a young sapodilla tree this spring and it is growing nicely. I am going to assume that the tree is in full sun. In your pic it looks like you have some kind of rock at the base of the tree. I would remove all of that and some of the dirt. I would top dress with some quality compost (thick layer). Then I would put a 3 (THREE!)inch layer of mulch. Wood chips would be an excellent choice. Be sure not to build up any of these materials on the trunk of the tree. Water regularly. Since you have been giving it a lot of fertilizer I would not add more. The tree will get some from the compost. Best of luck. Christine

Not sure where you live, MzMolly, but if you live where L. columbianum is native (and it does look like L. columbianum), then it cannot be L. superbum anyway. L. superbum is not native west of the Mississippi River. Many (most?) wild Lilium species in the USA are protected by law. In many states if protected lilies grow on your own land, you can do as you please, but it is against the law to dig or pull them without the landowner's permission, if it is legal at all. (You would have to check your state's DNR listing for the species.) Fortunately L. columbianum is one of the more common western wild lilies. I don't know if it is protected where you pulled it or not. But some lilies are rare, and a hefty fine would be imposed (and rightly so!) if caught digging or pulling them. In fact, some are becoming rare BECAUSE people are digging (read: poaching) them! So next time, maybe the better thing to do is photograph an unknown flower, and find out what it is before uprooting it. Rick