PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, anyone using Rue, Ruta graveolens, please be very careful! The leaves have oil on them that greatly intensify the sun. A number of years ago I was weeding among a number of large Rue plants. I was wearing shorts. The oil brushed off on my legs and unbeknownst to me, as I continued to work in the summer sun, the oil was adding to the intensity of the sun on my skin. Later that night I noticed what looked like a rash on my legs. In the middle of the night I woke with unbelieveable pain. When I turned on the light I discovered that my legs were sunburned to the point where each of my legs had only one blister - from the point of the hem of my shorts all the way down to the top of my foot where my shoes began. The pain was so intense that I had to sleep in the recliner with my feet up because any time my legs were below my heart the burn throbbed unbearably. The next day I went to the Dr., a pompous ass who insisted that it was poison ivy and would only prescribe cortisone cream. I tried to tell the Dr that this was a burn not a rash but he would not hear of it. After all HE WAS THE DOCTOR. After three days of abysmal pain the likes of which I hope I never have to endure again, I went to the emergency room. Fortunately the doctor here was more receptive to my suggestion. He had the nurse apply a burn cream called sulfadine. The instant - INSTANT - the cream touched my skin the pain went away. This is definately a miracle drug. The stuff was unbelieveably expensive but worth every penny. My point here is that Rue can cause a viscious sunburn. Beware of children around Rue, and protect yourself too. Later I found out that Rue is used in Italy as a way to KEEP (?) from getting sun burned. They take it internally to condition the skin for time in the sun. Personally, I would never use or grow Rue again. To those of you who do, please be careful!

About 5 days ago I found 3 EBS on my parsley; they were about a inch long. The next day I had only 2 & next just one, so I propped some 1/4 " hardware cloth as a carport to protect him. Three days later the big one was gone! He was pretty big, but don't guess he was ready to pupate. I don't plan to bring any inside (I grow mealworms for bluebirds), but I might consider bringin them into a walled porch. Sherry, did you build a "cage" with wood and screen wire? I have a friend who hates "those terrible worms that eat up her fennell" and she will call me to come and pick up her pests. Sylvia

No, Michelle, meadow rue is a different plant from the type of rue that hosts BSTs and GSTs - the scientific name for GST/BST rue is ruta graveolens. I've only seen it for sale at a nursery once, at Home Depot several years ago - I haven't seen it since, so I had to order mine. MissSherry

I was told once that taking a kitten away from mother too early would cause the sucking/nursing behavior. I am not sure if that was true. I got a Maine Coon cat a few years ago and the woman who bred them would not adopt until they were at least 8 weeks old. She at first did the nursing at least daily (no sucking but would drool) for about 6 months, now only occasionally. She is 3 yrs old now. It seems to be relaxing and puts her into a trace like state.I don't think it is strange, alot of cats do that nursing/kneading thing,it probably just an old memory of being with mom and feeling safe. I don't see any harm...(at least she doesn't suck)