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So, as recommended by Jim F., I went to the county extension office. I took samples of my buggy strawberry and some green and yellow mottled rose leaves.
I was impressed. They had a corner with toys for the kids and I got to see the assistant horticulturalist right away. The fee for the service was $1 for each plant, and when I discovered that I didn’t have $2 in cash, they said that I could owe them. Anyway–
STRAWBERRIES: As widely suggested, my strawberries are suffering from a nasty bout with black aphids, which are not to be confused with the green aphids currently having their meal on the rose bushes. Fortunately, while the diagnosis was no surprise, the cure prescribed was more original. I could use pesticides OR I could spray my strawberries with a diluted bleach solution. He recommended trying 5% and then upping it to 10% if necessary. I like having a plan.
ROSES: My diagnostician sought out a 2nd opinion from the head horticulturalist on this one (and it was still just an IOU $1). Unfortunately, he confirmed what I suspected: Rose Mosaic Virus. Recommended treatment: removal. As in, removal of the whole bush. I have at least three affected bushes. Boo-hoo. I am tempted to just keep removing all the branches affected by mosaic. There aren’t many right now, because I have done several radical branchectomies in the past. But apparently, once any branch shows symptoms, the entire bush is infected (which means shorter stems, fewer roses and less vigor) whether the symptoms are obvious on the other branches or not. Fortunately, it sounds like I am not risking my other roses if I choose not to remove the infected ones.
ALL IN ALL: I was very impressed with the extension service, and they will be seeing me again. (Probably as soon as the strawberry root weevils start eating the peonies). The depth of my ignorance has no bottom; the number of my questions is limitless!
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