There;s absolutely nothing wrong with your plant. It could be divided, but its got plenty of blooms so it's not imperative. Although I read May Night "should' be divided every three years, mine has been in place 4 or 5 and thrives. There's no need to 'worry' about cutting it back. If you cut the stem with the spent bloom right down to the next set of leaves, smaller flowers are produced in those leaf axils. They are not a dramatic statement, but they are a color in the garden. Do cut that stem quite close, or the ugly stub sticks up inbetween or next to the new flowering stems. I guess if you blooming season is long enough you could hack the plant way back. But her in zone five, unless the foliage is a mess, I don't usually cut back my perennials all the way. The season often isn't quite long enough for mid to late season flowers to recover and look like anything. You have to learn by experience. Sorry its the truth. If you have a plant that's a little out of line of sight, cut it way back and see what it does compared to the moderately dead headed ones. Tracey .... a well known garden designeer and writer writes books about her experiments. We pay to learn from her. But she's become an expert by hacking, trimming, deadheading and watching and watching and waiting and waiting.

Any lavender will hold its own, as far as standing up. I would recommend asclepias tuberosa for attracting butterflies and not flopping. Mine only gets about 18" tall. My salvia flopped, too, but it's one of my earliest big nectar providers. I'm wondering if just letting stronger stuff fill in around it will hold up the salvia. Martha

Interesting gadget that you desire to find. I have never heard of anything like that. I'm guessing that anything that can receive a walkie talkie/cell phone type signal is going to need to be charged every couple of days simply because it has to be on all the time. Can you put the charger somewhere where you will see it every evening on your way to bed, and get in the habit of charging up when you go to bed every night? That's what I do with my cell phone and it works well. Maybe a cell phone in your pocket would hold a charge longer than a walkie talkie would? If the item your using has an old battery or is an older model, a new battery or a new device will probably hold a charge a lot longer, since the technology improves dramatically all the time. Perhaps you could rig up some sort of wristband or lanyard that would hold your wife's cell phone? If she has trouble with the cell phone being too hard to dial in an emergency, there are simple cell phones designed for the elderly or the technophobic that just dial a couple of preset numbers, and you could program your cell phone into that and carry your cell in your pocket all the time. Just some suggestions. Maybe someone inventive will design and market a device like you need? I hope so. Good luck.

Wodka~I just read today & we bought & are going to try it: use a mixture of vinegar & water on weeds. I'm not sure about the strength. It is something that isn't harmful to children or animals or the environment so that was a plus as far as I was concerned. The bottle of vinegar, gallon, is still sitting there though. LOL I didn't know if we would go ahead & post on this thread on Monday since it is a holiday or start another one. I thought that I would post a weekend QOD & let it be good through Tuesday. QOW: If you could remodel one room in your home, what would it be? QOW: I think we would do the kitchen, simply b/c the one in this apt. is so tiny that 2 people cannot get into it. I was thinking earlier today, that is the reason that Dave & I both no longer cook, besides I can no longer lift the pans. I just hadn't stopped to realize. I thought that this was kind of neat: Going Green--Kitchen Remodel: Most kitchens are the center of energy use in the average home besides being a place where people like to congregate. Before you remodel your kitchen, think about these renewable, eco-friendly resources: *Bamboo is known to be strong and durable. It is lightweight in comparison. It can grow up to 2 feet per day and can be harvested every 4 years. An oak tree takes 120 years to mature. Bamboo forests are natural habitats for the Giant Panda but the bamboo harvested for building purposes is cultivated separately. Bamboo can be used for flooring, countertops, furniture, and other kitchen accessories. *Cork comes from the cork oak tree. It is the only tree whose bark regenerates after each harvest. The trees are unharmed from harvest and can be harvested every 9 years. It is popular for its softness and resiliency. Cork flooring is easier on the legs and back especially if you are on your feet. It is an excellent thermal insulator. It's perfect for keeping energy costs down. If you use cork flooring, be sure to use a proper sealant to waterproof the surface. *Marmoleum is named for a marble-coated linoleum. It will change the image of the cheap, poorly made, plasticky material from the outdated kitchens of the past. It uses ingredients including cork, linseed oil, and pine rosins & is 100% biodegradable. Marmoleum is excellent to use in a home with allergy concerns as it is easy to clean, very durable, comes in a variety of fun colors and shapes. *Recycled Glass is used by some artists for plates, bowls, cups, and other kitchen necessities. It can be used for decorating as recycled glass tile such as multicolored large tiles or tiny pieces for mosiacs. Recycled glass can also be used in the bathroom. *Appliances--How long has it been since you have replaces your microwave, toaster oven, refrigerator, freezer, stove, or dishwasher? Many companies have changed their policies and overall makeup of appliances to make them more energy efficient. *Eating green no longer means you have to eat your spinach! Eating green means picking out organic foods. These are just a few things to consider if you are looking to remodel your kitchen and want to conserve energy at the same time. I don't think I really knew or considered any of them except for changing appliances. And my parents put up a cork blackboard on 1/2 of a whole wall in the kitchen when I was in high school. It was pretty neat b/c they could post everything that they wanted there: ie, chores, grades, schedules, pictures, appointments, etc. Well, I'm off again.