Great photo Arlene, and very useful for diagnosing problems.

Thanks. The Cooperative Extension Agent was very annoyed that I was upset when I called about it. How would a gardener know the plant can recover unless we're told what the problem is so we can look it up online?

And why should he be annoyed? That is what he gets paid to do. Help the public with their plant questions.

We have a great Pest and Disease forum here, that has started to compile information. Eventually it may lead to a database for Pests, and maybe one for disease.
http://garden.org/forums/view/...

Maybe he was just in a bad mood or maybe it was the 10th time that day he had to answer the same question.

Should I enter the photos of the cottony scale there?

Yes, that would be a great idea Arlene. People are getting used to going there to find what is in their gardens.
And your photos is a really great example of cottony scale.

I hope my tombstone doesn't reflect my experience with it.

Thanks. I'll do it now.

Tombstone?

Not to worry. I won't have a tombstone with an epithet since I'll be ashes floating around on Cape Cod Bay!

Same here. Well not the part about Cape Cod Bay.

Of course, if I had lived my life on Cape Cod (instead of Long Island) maybe I'd want my ashes floating on Southold Bay!

Well I am sure glad the Hydrangea macrophylla 'Harlequin' didn't succumb to this pest. It is such a beautiful plant.

Thank you.