I used Neem this spring and I've seen 8 dead and dying bumblebees on our rosebushes, within the last 6 weeks. There are several recent newspaper articles about a greatly increased mortality rate of bees in NOrth America. I wonder if the increased awareness of the harmful effects of artificial pesticides has led to an increased use of Neem,which is made from a culinary herb, and if Neem is what is killing the bees. I've gone back to using Cornell spray. I use a garlic, jalepeno,onion spray against thrips on my white and light pink and yellow roses. Luxrosa Cornell Spray. Prevents mildew, rust and b.s.. baking soda 1 to 2 tsps. I use 2 on the few roses which require the extra amount. 1 tsp. of canola oil ( it disperses in water) Thrip spray. 1/2 head of garlic (you don't need to peel it. 1/2 onion 2 whole jalepenos. 1 quart water. 1 tsp canola oil. Blend everything, let sit for 4 hours at room temp. Strain with cloth twice. Keep any extra in the refrigerator. Lux.

"How I long for the days not to live there." What exactly does this mean anyway?! Below zero--once in a blue moon--big deal. Sorry to disagree buy NYC is mild enough for any number of species of bamboo(NYC, by the way, is a solid zone 7--NOT 6). I am just north of NYC (in NJ)and have grown all variety of Phyllostachys (aureus, nigra, nidularium, viridis and vivax and other genera). They all wanted to form a monogenetic bamboo grove and do not suffer winter burn PERIOD. If yours do, you're doing something wrong. The rare zero temps simply do not kill Phyllostachys aureus (though at times I WISH IT DID)! I have been growing bamboo for over a decade. NOT that I necessarily recommend them. Yes, they ARE aggressive!! You must be prepared to rhizome prune annually unless you want them to take over the planet. I'm not sure about their impact on structures like buildings. Personally, I would keep them away from neigbors, buildings, and property lines. But they are certainly "hardy" (in every sense of the word)!

They are testing a bug at Leu Gardens that's 'sole purpose on earth is to eat air potato'. But as near as I can tell, these would not really do much in helping to get rid of the plant. Plants and insects eventually form a balance. Even if they managed to breed thousands of the bugs and dump them on an area, the bugs only seem to eat the foliage, so eventually the plants will come back and the number of bugs to keep them in check will have dwindled due to starvation. They would have to find a way to create and maintain an 'infestation' of the bugs to really make a difference. Here is a link that might be useful: Air Potato Bugs

Made it home last night and the first thing I did ( after hugging my husband) was to make a walk through the garden. Everything is much improved regarding the thrips. Some of my roses have some BS since I haven’t been spraying in order to let the Beauveria do its job. I’ll have to weed and deadhead today. Picking everything up in a plastic bag and disposing of it in the trash (thank you Jim). Here are some pictures from last night and this morning. Mary rose was planted last fall and it has impressed me. First one to bloom while it was still 50 degrees and nothing faces her. These are new blooms at their darkest stage. Earth angel is gorgeous. Band planted last fall and already around 2 1/2 feet tall and blooming. It has been in the 90s for a month now and she still shows some pink. Can’t wait to see her next spring. Iceberg in background. Front bed. The white in front is Moonstone. The tallest in middle back is Madame A ( love hate relationship with this one) Bosco making a come back and showing some bs. Carding mill gets bs, but it is very floriferous and I love it. Benjamin is lovely Darlow’s Enigma baby Ballerina is my best hybrid musk so far. Has grown 3 feet on her first season. I planted 2 buff beauties and 1 just died in its first week and the other one hasn’t done much. Kew gardens first season. I know I am going to love it. I planted it too deep, but It is doing ok.