There's nothing quite as cool-looking(temperaturewise) as BLUE flowers. I grew Phacelia a few years ago, best blue i ever saw, next to cornflowers. The bell-shaped blue flowers with icy-white anthers were beautiful, and stirred up images of cooler weather. They do have a short bloom time, hot weather just about stops the show, cutting back helps somewhat. Give 'em a try, i believe there are 2 or 3 varieties. Good luck, and enjoy.

Glad to hear most of you have had good luck with the BlueBells. We went to a local plant sale in the fall that was 75% off and we took our chances with everyting b/c they no longer had greenery showing (had already died back for winter). We got 3 pots of Virginia Bluebells, 3 pots of Solomon's Seal and 3 pots of Bunchberry. At first we thought all 9 pots were duds and we vowed not to take our chances with the fall sales but we've just found that the bluebells have sprouted and we are really pleased. They have such big roundy leaves...very pretty and such a contrast to all the feathery foliage that our little woodland garden currently has (blue cohash, columbine, ferns etc.) Good luck to everyone else's bluebells. :o) Barb

I totally agree that the idea of raising meat for slaughter is very disturbing too! I really try not to think about the slaughter houses, etc!! i couldn't be a livestock farmer either!!!! I have a sibling who is a vegetarian still because the very idea of eating an animal went against her grain when she was 15 or 16... I personally could happily live with eating very little or no meat, but my husb would not, so I cook meat at least a couple of times a week. so, I buy meat/fish for my family and leather for my furniture/clothes/shoes and try not to think about the animal's life before my consumption, to be perfectly honest... but, there are many hunters- most, if not all, I have known in fact- who hunt for sport, even if they also eat the animal..... I am sure there are hunters out there who hunt because they want to eat meat, but refuse to buy farm raised meat so they hunt for ethical reasons-- but I think they are the exception rather than the rule. I could not hunt, period, even if I spent many hours at the shooting range and bought the finest guns/bows!! I could get into target shooting I think or archery, but I could never find enjoyment in killing an animal and I don't want animals killed for sport (even if killed instantly with one shot and eaten too) displayed as trophies or as décor in my house. others feel differently and that's ok!

I wish moonie had taken my suggestion and allowed someone to send messages to here. Which is something for all to think about if they have or develop a health problem and are a regular on any site.