Keelbacked Treehopper on Tomato: Minor Pest

The insect is a keelbacked treehopper, one of many hoppers. Damage is minimal; ignore or spray carbaryl or neem when nymphs appear.

Hydrangea Cane Borer: Prune Out Infested Stems

Cane borers tunnel into hydrangea stems. Insecticides dont reach them. Cut stems lower until you find clean wood, destroy clippings. Repeat annually to reduce population.

"Volcano" South of Atlanta: The Cove Dome, Not a Volcano

The circular feature between Manchester and Molena is The Cove, a geological dome formed by erosion of resistant Hollis Quartzite, not a volcano. Its hundreds of millions of years old; no eruption risk.

Jumping Oak Galls: Wasp-Induced, Harmless

Tiny brown galls dropping from white oaks are jumping oak galls from a small wasp. They jump when the larva moves. Harmless to the tree; unlikely to recur heavily next year.

Variegated Bishop's Weed: Invasive, Remove Now

The variegated leaves of three is bishops weed (Aegopodium podagraria Variegatum). Its attractive but aggressively invasive. Spray with glyphosate now and monitor for years.

Bacterial Gall on Rosemary Stems

Scaly growths on older rosemary stems are bacterial galls. Not fast-spreading. Keep the plant until it becomes too unsightly.

Sweetshrub Without Fragrance: Maybe It's the Variety

Many sweetshrubs (Calycanthus) have little scent. The yellow-flowered Athens is reliably fragrant. Enjoy the flowers regardless.

Dog Urine Killing Liriope: Flush Soil to Replant

Dog urines concentrated nitrogen and salts burn liriope. Damage is short-term. Dig out dead plants, irrigate heavily to leach salts, then replant grass or liriope.

Leaf Gall on Leucothoe: Exobasidium Fungus

The weird growth is Exobasidium vaccinii, causing galls on leucothoe, azalea, and camellia. Its cosmetic. Pick off affected parts and trash them.

Millipedes on Tree Trunks: Harmless and Temporary

Millipedes climbing trees is unusual but harmless. Theyll disappear as summer heats up. If intolerable, any garden insecticide will kill them, but its unnecessary.

Oak Leaf Blister: Cosmetic Spring Disease

Oak leaf blister appears in cool, wet springs. Its unsightly but doesnt harm the tree long-term. Rake leaves in fall; next year may be blister-free if spring is dry.

Allegheny Mound Ants: Difficult to Control in NW Georgia

Allegheny mound ants (northwest Georgia) ignore baits. UGAs Dr. Dan Suiter recommends spot-treating exposed nest sites with liquid pyrethroids (bifenthrin, permethrin, deltamethrin). Do not apply near water. Rake mounds

Bumblebee Nest in Fallen Squirrel Nest

The insects in the fallen squirrel nest are bumblebees, not carpenter bees (bumblebees have hairy abdomens). Relocate the nest to a shrub away from high-traffic areas if possible.

Fig Cutting With Unlobed Leaves: Normal Juvenile Variation

One of three fig cuttings has unlobed leaves. This is a normal variation on young fig wood; it will likely produce lobed leaves as it matures.

Squash Volunteer in Compost Pile

The fast-growing, prickly-stemmed plant with large leaves is a squash from discarded seeds. It may not match the parent due to cross-pollination. Fruit is edible when tender.

Bent Tree Trunk: Strap It Back Upright

For a severely bent but healthy trunk, wrap 1-inch webbing around the bent limb and a strong upright trunk to pull it back. Avoid wire-in-hose, which damages bark. Nylon belts from a thrift store work well.

Mystery Black Blob on Pool Wall: Bess Beetle Without Abdomen

The black blob with feelers was identified by UGA entomologist Bill Blum as a Bess beetle (Passalidae) missing its abdomen. Community guesses included rhinoceros beetle, dung beetle, and predator remains.

Twin Cucumbers: A Natural Curiosity

Joined twin cucumbers occur when a female flowers ovary splits and both halves are pollinated. Theyre edible and not extremely rare, just uncommon.

Nursery Pot Left Inside Larger Container Killed Leyland

A worker likely jammed a small potted Leyland into a larger pot without removing the inner pot, preventing root expansion. The tree died. Ask the nursery for a replacement; they may honor it to keep a customer.

Orange Cucumbers: Overripe or Yellow Variety?

Some cucumber varieties (Sunsweet, Chinese Yellow, Lemon) are naturally yellow/orange when ripe and may be more nutritious. But if your daughters cucumbers turned orange on the vine, theyre likely overripe—harvest earlie