Rose pruning ready for Spring

It's rose pruning time early August and if there are any beautiful blooms like our "Julia's Rose" - a glorious coffee coloured bloom - remaining they are gathered up and put inside in a vase. Then it's gloves on and the thorny pruning begins.

Come Spring I hope to have a new camera which will allow me to photograph miniscules (like aphids). Hopefully there won't be too many aphis to shoot - I would rather take photos of Ladybirds eating the little blighters!

Anyone with good organic tricks for getting on top of them in Spring?