THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THE PRINTED VERSION. VALPARAISO

A mild winter made Norm Backus' rose bushes early pickings for Japanese beetles. He figures he'll have to battle them until early September. The 80-year-old Valparaiso resident began spotting the pesky beetles on his blooms and leaves the last week of June.

He uses an insecticide, Sevin, and soapsuds to kill the beetles. They especially like his white-and-pink roses - which provide dinner seating for four to six beetles lately.

Horticulturist Sherrill Newman at Samuelson's Nursery in Washington Township recently ...

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