What is This?!

I went for a walk with my friend Phil at the Hoyt Arboretum this afternoon. We determined that we hadn’t seen each other since last December. Many things happening for both of us. We’ve been friends for almost 20 years - we worked together at a local art college and became fast friends. Back on track now, we hope.

We both have a passion for plants and nature and horticulture which can sure slow down our walks at times! So much to discuss. Today we see these odd balls of moss all over a native rose bush. Come to find out, they are moss galls. They're created by a tiny wasp that lays her eggs in the stems of rose bushes in the spring. Fortunately it’s easy to prune them out. If left unchecked they can cause serious damage to the plant. Curious eh?