aphids
aphids are showing up. it’s that time of year. they’re actually pretty easy to manage unless you have a large scale infestation. our garden is dinky so it’s impossible to have anything large scale. no dinosaur food here. who would have thunk that texans dig gunnera? friends at edelweiss perennials have been vexed by some aphid herds this year. one plant aphids adore is omphalodes capadocica ’starry eyes’:
they haven’t yet found the omphalodes here but they have found some rose buds:
unless they’re really bad, which fortunately i’ve yet to experience, i don’t use soap, pepper spray or anything other than forefingers, thumbs and fine hose spray to thin aphid herds. here’s a picture of the same rose buds minus critters:
minus all but one anyway. if you look in the lower right hand portion of the ‘after’ picture you’ll notice a backside view of one plump aphid clinging to the underside of a rose leaf. impressive indeed!