If the student is young, I think a question on a forum that has a diverse group of participants makes sense - it takes time to learn about how plants perform in various environments and how various people respond to them. If the OP is young and starting out (not necessarily the case for that Diploma...), asking for opinions on a forum is probably the fastest way to expand their knowlege base on how plants perform in a wide variety of domestic gardens. And somebody young is probably very comfortable 'talking' on the computer and likely to turn to a computer conversation as one of the first options to consider.... (It was interesting how students reacted to the 'class participation forum' in the correspondence course I took last winter through the University of Guelph. The students ranged in age from 20s to 60s. I was disappointed that there wasn't as much discussion on the forum as I expected and asked the Prof. about it. She said that the older students tended to be uncomfortable with the whole written conversation format. It became very noticeable that, in general, the pattern of participation was pretty closely aligned with age - with some exceptions!)

Listen to Ken. The people I bought my house from planted about 10 of them as a hedge row along the sidewalk. They now take up most of the side walk. I may hard prune them after next years blooms. I like the spirea but don't love it. My wife and mother in law love it and would kill me if I ever got rid of it. So it stays. The great thing about that hedge is it get aphids pretty good but it's always loaded with lady bugs and larve. So if I ever have a aphid problem I head to the spirea bush for the "Dr's".

Repel brand, made with lemon eucalyptus essential oil. If you search for tests for how long different things keep mosquitoes off, this does quite well--for 2 to 4 hours. I haven't tried it for gnats, though, since they're not a problem here. I've never seen it in a normal store, but you can call around. REI carries it. So does Ludens in Charleston SC (that's where I found it)

Also…..the pictures of the worms with fifferent shapes…..thats a parasite that lives in freshwater snails…..it can mutate into several different shapes so it can attach to different shells…..it is curable. Look up the treatment for this online and then have a doctor confirm your diagnosis for you by running the appropriate tests. Another thing….. After reading this I had the bright idea to put peroxide on the black dots in my skin (they hate peroxide)….and the dot turned white in more of a large triangle shape around it. Then…..I decided to go get my iofine which removes skin tags by topical application….i rubbed it aggresdively on some of the black dots and THEY CAME RIGHT OUT OF MY SKIN LIKE SELF PROPELLED SLIVERS!!!!! Maybe Iodine is the answer. We no longer have it in our food bc the soil has been depleted since yhe 80's. I take it with water a couple drops here and there. Iodine can become toxic and deadly if you excede the recommended dosage……however, topical use works!!!! If applying to large areas of the body it shpukd probably be diluted. They also hate salt……and vinegar…..so maybe following with a salt water soak to wash the iodine. It majes sense SEAFOOD/IODINE……FRESHWATER SNAILS/SALTWATER. Iodine And Real Salts tend to work well together. MOTHER NATURE is a very very smart lady;)