2025 year of the Zinnias

2025 as well as 2024 have been very difficult years on a personal level, and a gardening one.  2024 I called year of the pest, because rodents and birds caused a lot of trouble.  I thought about calling 2025 year of the bugs, or aphids. With the exception of a late August aphids on beans until this year I just didn't have any bug problems. Sure a little now and then, but before I could even think about doing something predators would take care of it. Not this year. I started out with stink bugs, and got a major infestation of aphids in the beginning of July. I have heard countless complaints about the terrible aphids this year, so maybe the weather?  Anyway it's been a pain, I bought ladybugs, and they are finally winning the war.
I also thought about calling it the year of neglect. I just haven't put the time or effort I normally invest into my garden this year. I think it's a little to do with the fact I'm garden cashier at work this year. I enjoy it, had to kind of fight to get it, but it makes for some very long hot days. It's tough to want to go outside after work.
Amazingly even with the aphids, and neglect I still got a lot out of the garden this year. I grew bell peppers this year, and even though I didn't get a lot I did get the largest most perfect bell peppers I have ever grown. Tons of tomatoes, squash, and other veggies, fruit and herbs. The star of the show has been the Zinnias. They have bloomed and bloomed, and are so beautiful. Different sizes, shapes and colors.  In an effort to be positive I'm calling 2025 the year of the Zinnias.

Wow....can we ever relate to your post, Jen!   From our location in the northern Midwest, the hot, muggy, buggy and chaotic weather has us anticipating with glee seeing the 'tail-lights of summer 2025'!  In another thread, I was lamenting the loss of our potato and paste tomato crop to an unusual late-summer flood,....which occassioned the explosion of a epic mosquito population...of just the right species to transmit west nile virus (WNV).  This followed a heavy tick season and the storm that brought the flooding packed enough wind to fell some trees, a few of which threatened outbuildings before they were sawed down.  Throughout all, my wife's zinnias were slowly growing as usual...then burst into color over the past few weeks.  Oddly, the monarch butterflies showed up late this year, but were honing in on the splash of color provided by these flowers.  I'm hoping now that the moisture and humidity of summer will translate to some spectacular fall colors once the temperatures turn seasonal.

So sorry for your troubles John.   Hang in there 💪. I'm a pessimist by nature, but try to remind myself to look on the Brite side.