Yuck! Cornus critters

I recently snapped these photos of my Rhododendron 'Ebony Pearl' and Cornus sanguinea 'Compressa'—they looked so good in the evening light.I planned to post them on Instagram, but hadn't gotten around to it. Sadly these were to be among the last photos I'd ever take of this combination, because just a few days later I removed the cornus.
We were leaving to go to lunch and I went out check something in the garden, glancing at them as I walked by.It was horrid.
Cottony cushion scale, I believe.
I'd been keeping an eye out for this hideous creature to return, the same plant had suffered a very light infestation a few years ago. Back then I picked the bad leaves, cut a few stems, and sprayed. This time it seemed to appear over night, and was far worse. I cut everything back, bagged the cuttings, and put them in the garbage, not the yard waste container. 
When we returned home that afternoon I dug out the roots of the plant and in it's place put the annual Ipomoea × multifida I'd bought while up in Spokane. It's not a long term planting, but will fill the void for now and since we plan to paint the back of the house this year that's probably best.
Those bright cheery flowers have ALMOST made me forget the creepy cushiony scale, almost.

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