Thanks for the suggestions/info--taking off some height when I deadhead should be pretty easy (just a change up from snapping off the spent flowers as I usually do). I guess we are still a while from beetle season, even with this weather, but if they hit mid-June last year I'm going to be ready for early June this year. I don't recall having too many problems last year (nothing I couldn't deal with by picking by hand morning and night). But there have been earlier years where it was a very different story...

I believe its a sedge. Does any one know where I can purchase some? Would look good planted with my outdoor CP's.

It's nice to have IKEA as a choice. Our DD bought some items for her place and I ended up shopping there for myself recently for a few things. The attraction for me is not simply that they are inexpensive, for the most part, but that according to them at least, they make an attempt to be environmentally friendly and non toxic. Unfortunately, I was disappointed that their attempt is not always much better than other stores. I thought I might be able to buy a new mattress there, but evidently there is a law that requires all mattresses to have fire retardant on them, which I won't sleep on. It outgasses for years, even if you put a zippered cover over it. Not their fault that they are required to use it. I also bought a large floor mirror after my DD bought one for her house. I brought it home and unpacked it and it smelled horrible! Really bad. I wasn't sure if it was the packaging or the actual mirror. I put it in a spare room for 3 weeks to air it out but it didn't go away. I could still smell it in the hall as I passed the room with the door shut. I took it outside on the porch for two days. I was disappointed because it was just what I needed but I took it back. I was surprised. If they are trying to do non toxic, I just don't get it. It was a large mirror with a black wooden frame. What's so hard about doing that non toxic? Low VOC paint on plain pine and you're all set. I did buy a chest of drawers that I liked and that had no smell. It was very inexpensive and I thought it was attractive. We kept that. I also have one of their warm duck feather comforters that I have been very happy with. It's SO warm in the winter! I don't know what I did before that. Unfortunately, it is significantly smaller than most standard duvet covers and not really all that much cheaper, so now that I need a second one, I am looking for other alternatives that will fit the duvet cover better. An organic goose or duck down, but I am still looking. Overall, though, I have found some of the wooden furniture to be a nice inexpensive alternative. I have not found any of their upholstered furniture that seems worth buying. I also see a lot of that for sale on Craig's list when it is not that old. Photos of them at 3 years old look pretty worn. I have not bought lighting from them after being cautioned that their lights are not UL listed. Like someone else mentioned, my tastes run to the more traditional/country, so they are often a little too contemporary for me, but my DD leans more contemporary, so more of their styles appeal to her. I still feel they are worth checking out when I need something. They do a LOT of business. They fill a niche. I hope they will improve their offerings of non toxic, environmentally friendly products, because that would really interest me.

There have been quite a few studies done showing that certain breeds are sensitive to ivermectin which is used in heartworm meds. Ivermectin toxicity affect certain breeds that may carry a genetic mutation. They were starting to see this first in collies and later other herding breeds, the Aussie is included in those susceptible breeds. I remember discussing this with my vet when we had a Sheltie/Aussie mix. Apparently they have a test for the genetic mutation these days. I live in an area where heartworm is simply not a problem. My dog is not on heartworm meds at all. I have discussed this with my vet and he sees no reason for me to put her on it unless we plan to take her to areas where it is a greater risk. Then I would be happy to have her tested and put on medication for the time period necessary. I have no fleas either but if she is out in parks and places where she meets others dogs I do use a dose of Frontline at the start of flea season. No reason to do flea treat in the dead of winter. A lot of things are pushed on clients by vets for one simple reason. They know people get lax in the care of their animals. If they say recommend something for the season the client may forget next year so it's easier to put the dogs on heart worm year round. Of course this doesn't apply to people who travel a lot with their dogs or live in mosquito zones year round. By advocating for yearly vaccines they know they will at least see the dog once a year since people bring them in for annual health check ups or worse wait until they are extremely ill. Here is a link that may be informative: http://www.cliniciansbrief.com/sites/default/files/attachments/Ivermectin%20Toxicosis.pdf