It’s bag worm time again. Every year we get this little buggers on our hedges and they wreak havoc. Time to call the exterminator. Here’s one of them up close and personal.

Here’s a bunch of them destroying a section of hedge.

As if the bag worms weren’t trouble enough, we’re still recovering from the damage caused by our recent visit from the cicadas. The cicadas lay their eggs in the thin branches of trees, and then everything from that point on to the end of the branch dies. Trees all over this area have lost virtually all new growth and many have clumps of brown leaves hanging from branches. The more established trees will survive, but the very young trees may not. The new neighborhood near us has dozens of new trees planted and most of them suffered substantial damage. This first tree is in my front yard. Normally at this time of year you can’t see through it. Clearly it has suffered this year.

These are other trees around my yard.You can see the brown leaf clumps everywhere.