Lady bug pupae? That had crossed my mind but was only a fleeting hopeful hunch. We had bought a bag of lady bugs(My almost 6 yr old daughter calls them "ladies in red") 3 or 4 weeks ago and released them and I had seen alot of them hanging out in the daisy bush so I guess it doesn't surprise me to know that they are pupae. I'll get back to you about the "hair". Thanks for the reply.

Not a Shasta but does anyone grow Marguerites, Chrysanthemum frutescens not a hardy perennial (have to take cuttings) for me but should do well in warmer climes. I haven't grown them for years, in fact I can't really say I've seen them in the garden centers the last few years. Annette

I think a deep grape-purple front door would look great! Have you tried mocking it up using something like Photoshop? I find that a handy way to try out options - much easier than repainting things with a brush several times! I wouldn't be so keen on the picket fence - but that's partly because it's not part of the common venacular around here. I like the sweep of green but understand the urge to reduce the amount of lawn. I think, with a house with as much presence as yours, you should have an overall plan for what you want to achieve before you start putting things in piece-meal.

Hmmm they seem to be unhappy about something... dunno what... it's funny you should mention it because one of my Asiatic lilies (Corrida) did something similar this year, few petals and kinda twisty and off colour. But the later blooms were fine. I saved the pic... Sorry I can't tell you why.