Presence of white butterflies signals the start of infestation.

And while we were admiring the convolvulus, I noticed some dainty white butterflies flitting among the ornamental kale. Eeeek. Time to whip out the chemicals. Pyrethrins are potent neuro-toxins for the little green worms that destroy the lovely ornamental cabbages. (I’m sure I mentioned that I solved this problem several years ago by misting the garden with RID furniture spray that I had purchased in a paranoid panic when I found out that the neighbor girls had an intractable case of cooties. I never needed it, but was too cheap to toss it. It came in very handy. You should have seen those little worms writhe.)