Since there are a variety plastic formulations out there, you may have to experiment a little, but lacquer thinner will attack most of them. And you might try some of the "oderless" turpentine first just to see if you can dissolve it without having to deal with the smell of the more powerful solvents. Another good option is to try some aerosol solvents like automotive brake cleaner or electrical contact cleaners (most auto parts stores). That's what I used a few years ago. They are easy to use and get into nooks & crannies, but...the EPA has made the manufacturers change their formulas in the last couple of years, so I'm not sure if they still work the way they used to. Let us know how it turns out & what works best for you. All my best --- Tango

Thank you sshanky - not I'm not a photographer, just an amateur who enjoys the hobby. I have a few photos on the Hortiplex Database on the 'See My Journal' link and other links to my albums on 'My Page'. I used my Olympus C750UZ camera for that photo. We're lucky with hibiscus here and have 7 foot high hedges of it surrounding our garden. The golden flowered one in the photo is one of two I planted near our back patio as I love the bright sunny colour. Your leaf fall is probably the result of the move, as you say. It should start to pick up strength with the approaching spring weather. Sharon

It's not a scale insect, but a gall (called Eyespot gall!) caused by a midge. Galls, in general, are not harmful to the tree, fortunately. There's really nothing that you can do to reasonably prevent the tiny little midges from making these galls, and not a darn thing you can do to get rid of them once they've done their thing. Don't think of it as disgusting, but interesting. The adult midge lays an egg on/under the bottom surface of the leaf and the tree responds by making these distinctive galls around the developing larvae. It's the tree's fault, really, lol.

hi Kevin, I love your photos...I visited Punch Bowl Crater when I visited Oahu. What a beautiful place to be. When I was landing in Honalulu, I noticed this unique crater looking from ny window...I asked questions and found my way up there with my family. They buried alot of the unknown soliders from Pearl Harbor there..as well as named soliders whose families could not afford to send them home for a proper burial..they did a great job in keeping this a "special" place for remmemberance...Since we just passed Dec 7th...thank you for posting this special meaningful post reminding me of all the beauty on the island as well as all who have fallen for us as well...May they all have peace in Punch Bowl...a crater of beauty!!! Thank you for that...I did have to tell my passengers on that aDec 7th day to stop and reflect this special day...one day that will last in our history...I couldn't say anymore because aI could get in trouble...but I had to say something...they deserve that..... Thank you Kevin for the great post ...and may all who perished on that particular day...God bless you!!!! dECEMBER 7TH A DATE THAT WILL LAST IN IMFAMY!!! tAKE CARE EVERYONE... lAURA IN vb