In the last few years, the aphid population on my ‘Casablanca’ lilies has been pretty amazing. These are purple spotted lily aphids, and they usually show up in the late summer and fall. Luckily, the lilies are done blooming by the time the aphid population explodes. While aphids can be a nuisance, they provide food for many other bugs and function as hosts for the larva of some wasp species. Aphids produce a sticky, sugary substance called “honeydew”, which is consumed by ants, flies, and even wasps. Honeydew can become a problem on plants when a black fungus called sooty mold moves in and coats the leaves of a plant, blocking absorption of sunlight and therefore limiting photosynthesis.
Autumn is so often cloudy and rainy in our area, and I love how the colors of the leaves balance out the gloom. On rainy days, the pure gold leaves of Gingko trees seem to shine the brightest. I’m enjoying the colors that are starting to appear in my gardens—it’s always a good idea to think about fall color when you are choosing plants! Featured here: ‘Munchkin’ oakleaf hydrangea, ‘Northwind’ switchgrass, ‘Royal Purple’ smoketree, and Japanese spirea.
