Hello Evelyn and Zoë,
At this moment I don't have access to any natural aphid controls like a Praying Mantis or LadyBugs. The last time I tried to "pet" a Praying Mantis in my garden, it attacked me! Our size difference didn't seem to matter to it. I will check my aphid situation tomorrow. Hopefully, the Bayer product will wipe them out. I don't have any "pet" aphids.
"I guess I should start them a bit earlier, huh? Like in March or April?"
You could start them indoors in little pots, but unless you are trying to get two generations outside, you could just plant their seeds directly inground in your garden after there is no danger of frost. My main plantings are inground because that is so much less trouble and makes it practical to plant a lot of them.
I see a lot of different insects in my outdoor zinnias. This is a photo of a young katydid on one of my zinnia blooms.
Katydids are "good" because I believe that most of them are carnivorous, meaning that they eat other insects and don't eat my zinnias or any other plants in my garden. During the Summer here in our rural area, we get quite a population of Katydids (several different species of them I believe) and they do some impressive "singing" in the evening. I enjoy a cup of hot tea or decaf coffee in the evening while watching the fireflies and listening to the katydids or evening birds. A Yeti cup is my constant companion in the garden. It's unbreakable and vacuum insulated to keep a drink hot or cold.
I try to keep my gardening enjoyable. I no longer try to pet Praying Mantises.
More later.
ZM
