Don’t let the internet tell you what to do.

The first page said spray them - the army of aphids sent in by some unknowable natural force to quell the rioting spring roses, by occupying their tender young shoots and buds.

The next page said don’t, because the spray will kill everything else as well. Use garlic and detergent instead, in a weak solution, it said. I dug deeper, and found sage advice - in a book. It said do nothing. The aphids will naturally attract predators within a week which will do the job for you. That was seven days ago. Today I blinked in the early morning sunshine and watched a fat red round ladybird with brown armour waddle across a big green leaf of my newest rose, John F. Kennedy, planted in July. John Updike was right when he said the ladybird (ladybug) was one of two creatures that looked more toylike than any toy.