Mid-Atlantic Gardening: summer time bug and disease control, 2 by typwc

typwc wrote:
I have a terrible time with spider mites on my asclepias (both tuberosa and incarnata) and on my crocosmia. I have resorted to spraying with pesticides once but I'm phasing those kinds of plants out since they don't seem to attract monarchs for me here in this urban environment anyway. I think this is directly related to more neighbors using whole-yard mosquito sprays? Swallowtails are diminished but still present: I have some swallowtail (I think) eggs on my dill and parsley!

SSG: I have only learned about HVX this week. Here's my neighbor's plant. Pretty bad, huh? I have no recollection of what it looked like when it was healthy, but this hosta is flanked on both sides by what I believe is 'Frances Williams'.