gardening joys and qualms

So this spring has been full of gardening adventures for me!  I have been pulling out ugly plants and putting in new plants.  Also, I have put my hand to attempt my first herb garden and strawberry plant.  

I've experienced a recent panic with my beautiful rose garden I planted last fall.  It seemed I had these pests that no one could identify and no research could tell me what they were.  I tried all the natural remedies and nothing seemed to work.  Well, I finally discovered that these pests were in fact adult aphids!!! I guess my organic gardening, the release of ladybugs, didn't get all those aphids.  It seems this year they are

 especially nasty.  So one evening this week I will have to break down and use chemicals to try and kill the nasty bugs!  

So what's cooking in my garden?? Here are my recent additions:  MORE roses, hydrangeas, herbs, french lavender, and peonies.  With all the work I put in, I hope to one day just sit back and enjoy the beauty!