Nature sure is amazing, Annette!! 1. The red poppies that McCrae referred to had been associated with war since the Napoleonic Wars when a writer of that time first noted how the poppies grew over the graves of soldiers. 2. The damage done to the landscape in Flanders during the battle greatly increased the lime content in the soil, leaving the poppy as one of the few plants able to grow in the region. I too have heard it was due to the disturbance of the soil, both by bombs and by graves - how appropriate, really. 3. At the age of 41, McCrae enrolled with the Canadian Expeditionary Force following the outbreak of the First World War. He had the option of joining the medical corps due to his training and age, but volunteered instead to join a fighting unit as a gunner and medical officer. It was his second tour of duty in the Canadian military. He previously fought with a volunteer force in the Second Boer War. He considered himself a soldier first; his father was a military leader in Guelph and McCrae grew up believing in the duty of fighting for his country and empire. McCrae was moved to the medical corps and stationed in Boulogne, France, in June 1915 where he was named lieutenant-colonel in charge of medicine at the Number 3 Canadian General Hospital. He was promoted to the acting rank of Colonel on January 13, 1918, and named Consulting Physician to the British Armies in France. 4. McCrae fought in the second battle of Ypres in the Flanders region of Belgium where the German army launched one of the first chemical attacks in the history of war. Just a personal note, my maternal Grandfather was there, as well. "In Flanders Fields" has attained iconic status in Canada, where it is a staple of Remembrance Day ceremonies and may be the most well known literary piece among English Canadians. It has an official French adaptation, entitled "Au champ d'honneur", written by Jean Pariseau and used by the Canadian government in French and bilingual ceremonies. In addition to its appearance on the ten-dollar bill, the Royal Canadian Mint has released poppy-themed quarters on several occasions. A version minted in 2004 featured a red poppy in the centre and is considered the first multi-coloured circulation coin in the world. Among its uses in popular culture, the line "to you from failing hands we throw the torch, be yours to hold it high" has served as a motto for the Montreal Canadiens hockey club since 1940. The years of war had worn McCrae down, however. He contracted pneumonia that same day, and later came down with cerebral meningitis. On January 28, he died at the military hospital in Wimereux and was buried there with full military honours. The poem was a popular motivational tool in Great Britain, where it was used to encourage soldiers fighting against Germany, and in the United States where it was reprinted across the country. It was one of the most quoted works during the war, used in many places as part of campaigns to sell war bonds, during recruiting efforts and to criticize pacifists and those who sought to profit from the war. American composer Charles Ives used "In Flanders Fields" as the basis for a song of the same name that premiered in 1917. According to legend, fellow soldiers retrieved the poem after McCrae, initially unsatisfied with his work, discarded it. "In Flanders Fields" was first published on December 8 of that year in the London-based magazine Punch. Thanks for playing this week. I let you off easy - yeah, that's what it was, I meant it to be easy. lol. See you next weekend. Nancy.

WONDERFUL JAN!!! thank for sharing your babies w/us. I hate when I can't read the TAGS!!!!! DARN IT!!! When I Started collecting Daylillys --I think it was the second batch of Fans I had recieved from Auction wins--The French bulldog puppies got into the DL bed and STOLE all the TAGS!!! what a messup! They didn't touch the plants ,but had a field with the tags!!--this year all the plants that got "PUPPY MIXUP" are sending up Scapes--I do hope Some of my sweet forum Friends can help me figure out who is who!!! Since that messup I keep all new "LITTLE MONSTERS" in their own Paddock with lots of chew toys!!! cole-canines and daylillies in mendo

Sabrina is part of the Dutch Ladies Series with women's names, mostly starting in "s" for now, large florets, serrated petals and, in some cases, white edges. Its distribution here is limited, nothing like you see with the Endless Summer Series so, when looking for people who have it, check/inquire in the Garden Web European Forums too.

I have to say right now its ankle-biting critters. I've already been to the dr. once for 5 bites from I know not what. Have used Off religiously since then when working in the yard, but neglected to before visiting a neighbor, DUH. Jannie - There's a little on/off gizmo you can buy that screws onto the end of the hose, then you can screw on a hand sprinkler (or whatever) to that. Then, when you need to make a change, just turn the lever to 'off', make the change, then turn it on again. They come in various forms, plastic to metal, but are inexpensive and can be found in any garden dept. They do narrow the flow a little, but otherwise are very handy to have around. Carol Here is a link that might be useful: shutoff valves