Oh, and I wouldn't worry to much about the ants on them. There is likely a reason they are there. If they go away, it's possible that the health of your plant could deteriorate. I can't say for certain, but bugs provide all kinds of useful "services."
Like, I have heard on peonies that ants actually help the flowers to bloom. They help to eat away some sort of film that surrounds the flower so that the flower can open. That could be an old wives' tale, but it sounds reasonable...