Beginner Gardening: any ideas about what is happening here?, 0 by angele

angele wrote:
Thank you so much WeeNel! Very kind of you to give such a detailed response :-)

I've got a few more pictures for you. I saved them lower resolution to not take up too much bandwidth so I hope they show enough to be of help.
This first is the aphids on the sunflower. I am only growing these flowers for the birds so I don't mind the aphids. I saw a lady bug on the plant all day today so I think nature will take care of the aphids. I do wonder if the ants will try to harm the lady bug though.