I got home from a trip and found green bell peppers growing where the first few flowers were, and many more buds waiting to produce. Alas, these plants are finally producing food. The ants only seem interested when there's a new flower on the plant.
I have not checked for aphids. I've been more concerned with my upstairs neighbor letting his dog piss on their balcony and drip onto mine. The tomato plants and the maple tree aren't looking quite so good as the pepper plants. However, within the next few days, I am moving into a duplex apartment with a fenced backyard. That means: no upstairs neighbor, more direct sunlight, and access to flying creatures (bees, hummingbirds, bats, etc.) that act as pollinators.