pod said:
You probably hadn't thought about it but I suspect you know this because you mentioned ants and aphids together.
You won't ever eliminate the aphids until you get the ants under control.
Ants are known to 'farm' aphids. They encourage them on plants for their own (the ants) food source. It is common in okra and doesn't seem to hurt that crop but other crops (and houseplants) are slower to develop and are drained by the aphids.
Glad you survived the heart catherization and wish you many more years in the garden... 
Kristi, THANK YOU for the brain tweak!!!! Since you mentioned that about getting the ants under control I went and found a few articles supporting your statement. It definitely makes sense...not having the ants there to protect them from predators would be good, but I got to reading how the ants will chew the wings off the aphids to keep them from flying away and that the feet/legs of the ants give off a pheromone that causes the aphids to not form wings and also that will subdue and tranquilize herds of aphids to keep them in one place. I'm definitely going to start working on the ant population.
I do have a question, though. I'm figuring on cutting the peas off at ground level and chopping the vines up a bit and letting them rot on the beds. With all these aphids and most likely eggs, will they overwinter in the dead vines or in the soil and be a plague next year? I talked with a lady at church today that said last year their purple hull peas were hit hard with aphids...they didn't plant any this year.
And
@pod, thanks for the well wishes. The cath went well, now to get the two stents and get back home. Wednesday is the big day. I wonder if they can do a brain-transplant while they have me...my attitude hasn't been the best here lately.
