- Author: Jenni Dodini
I don't know if the number of aphids on this stem can be adequately appreciated by this picture, but trust me, it seemed like thousands. What was baffling to me was why it was only this one bush when there are several there for the bug feast. So I was going to write about the aphids as a little refresher (for me mostly) and out I went to take a few pictures to see if there would be one good one to attach. Well, my grandson Tyler was out there on lizard patrol and noticed that I was there with the iPad trying to take a picture. The iPad is a very strong attractor of 3 year olds. He could not figure out what was going on and why I was talking to the bush.
AHA!!!! A TEACHABLE MOMENT!!!! YEA!!!
Luckily, there was also a lady bug there, feasting. No ants yet though. We talked about what the aphids were doing there and also why the lady bugs are friends of ours and the roses. (Thank goodness he did not ask why they were not on the rose bush right next to this one.) He was fascinated by the whole thing. I may have a potential gardener or entomologist on my hands.
Anyway, the very next day, he came in and said, "Gramma, we need to go check the roses."