Easily 26+ years ago I planted a mock orange bush (also called osage orange) in my dining room patio area.  We had one when I was a little girl and I love the orange blossom fragrance when they bloom. This bush/tree has been home to many hummingbird nests where we have witnessed the tending, feeding, and fledging.

Two years ago, it began to struggle so we have adjusted the water and taken every action we could think of to bolster it back to good health. LITERALLY, two days ago a guest brought to my attention millions of white sacks that looked like snails. Research revealed that they were indeed the nests of a type of garden scale that is partial to fruit/citrus trees hence its selection of the mock orange. Thankfully, the flowering pomegranate was unscathed but the treatment for these nasty buggers has to be dramatic and immediate – severe, nearly down-to-the-ground pruning, burning infected foliage, and seeming what remains. Joshua set about today and, although our hearts are heavy, we are hopeful this will serve as a regeneration for my dear mock orange.  What a change of light profile for the garden. . .