Greencure is basically a commercial Cornell Formula and potassium bicarbonate-based fungicide. While some have had really good results with the Cornell formula, more have not. If you're looking for a reliable effective fungicide, you'll have to stick with the chemical products. There are less expensive but effective fungicides available. Many report good results with the Bayer advanced Disease Control and Rosemania sells a cheaper version of Banner Maxx. When figuring out how expensive a product is you must consider how much you have to use and how often for it to be effective. Greencure requires 1 tbsp/gal every 7-10 days for prevention. I found it on-line for $19.95 for an 8 ounce container. Dilute at 1-2 tablespoons per gallon every 7 days BannerMaxx usage is 1/3 - 2/3 teaspoons per gallon every 14 days. It's $69.99 pint at Rosemania. The generic Honor Guard PPZ (pint) is $57.99. The Bayer product uses 1 1/2 TBS per gallon every 7-14 days. It's $14.97 qt at Lowes.

We lived in Georgia when I was eight years old. Had a cool creek that ran through the backyard that my friends and I spent lots of time in, catching crawdads and throwing lily pads at each other. The first week of May I got horribly sick with what the docs guessed was an allergy. I couldn't breathe, even though I've never had asthma. My face turned very red and swelled to the point that I couldn't see. My hands swelled so much that they actually cracked and clear liquid ran from the cracks. It lasted for several days and then disappeared as suddenly as it came on. The following year it was back -- again in the first part of May. It was worse the second time and I ended up in the hospital, on oxygen and being pumped full of antihistamines. After asking tons of questions about anything new in my environment, the doctor finally told my mother that he believed I was deathly allergic to something that only bloomed during that time of year. His suggestion, besides documenting everything that I'd recently come into contact with, was to be GONE from the area well before the following May. Needless to say, we moved up North, and there were no more episodes until I went to an Easter Sunday service where the church was filled with blooming LILIES. The uncontrollable coughing started before we were even seated. Within five minutes I was having trouble breathing and freaking out. Mystery solved. I got out of there like my pants were on fire and my butt was catching! Nowadays I don't go to Easter services, or weddings, or funerals. I steer clear of the floral department in garden centers and grocery stores. No more lilies for me. For the record, I don't think I'm allergic to ALL types of lilies, but I have no plans to test that theory.

Gibby, I think they made the right decision for themselves due to the health concern. Sometimes the long anticipation of the misery is almost as bad as the misery when it hits. And you would have been no less comfortable in light of your concerns for them. I am a cat lover and I was always on meds to tolerate cats. Thirteen years ago I discovered Maine Coons and their cousins, Norweigian Forest Cats & Russian Siberians. Much to my surprise, I am totally not allergic to Maine Coons, but still react to other breeds and mixed breeds. It is a pleasure to be able to have cats in our home and I never have complaints from visitors with allergies since I acquired my Maine Coons. A close friend bought a MC after I discovered this, because a family member has severe allergies and stopped visiting her when she previously had a cat. The sister-in-law resumed her visits without a problem. I don't know if it works for everyone, but it certainly has for us.

Steer clear of ColorQuartz. I bought five slabs of Akoya Pearl Quartz from International Granite and Marble (IGM). This quartz is made by ColorQuartz. Their sample was incredibly beautiful. It looked like real stone. It was to be delivered and installed while I was gone, therefore I asked IGM if I should come and approve the slabs before I left. They said no, because it was man-made, they would all look like the sample. They delivered and installed while I was gone. The material that was installed was of incredibly poor quality. It has little specks all over it. It looks like it is covered in freckles or made of tapioca. I called IGM and complained. They came to my home and looked at it and agreed with me. They said it would be up to ColorQuartz to refund my money or replace it. I called the local ColorQuartz rep. He said it was awful that the quartz looked so bad. He said he would do something that day or the next. He did not. I then called and complained to the ColorQuartz VP of Sales. He literally told me he didn't care. Repeatedly, he just said, "I don't care". I never heard of any sales person ever before say such a thing. IGM is no longer returning my calls, so I am not too pleased with them either. If they are a good company, they will drop ColorQuartz. I paid $6121.61 for those slabs. I am attaching photos. The one on the right is the actual, the one on the left is the sample.