"Tunica saxifraga was new to me it looks very sweet, how do you use it?" I've used it planted in a stone wall that had soil behind it, and also at the top of a stone wall at the edge of a perennial bed. Right now I have it growing in a sunny bit at the feet of a lilac and also a clump of several plants along the edge of my new shrub bed. Like DtD, I like the feathery foliage which has surprising mass when planted in quantity - mine under the lilac looks like a groundcover over several square feet, though it's only three plants. The flowers look a bit like pink double baby's breath, but it doesn't self-seed rampantly as baby's breath has done for me. (I've ended up ripping out the baby's breath.) I often underplant it with small bulbs as it doesn't interfere with the bulbs' sprouting, but its fresh green foliage helps distract from and cover the dying bulb foliage. I got my original plant from White Flower Farm, probably 20 years ago, and when I recently went looking for more, from Bluestone, though I'm sure there are other places that carry it. It's a plant I've never seen locally, perhaps because it's subtle enough (sort of like witch hazels) that it might not sell itself well at the garden center the way that big, bright-flowered plants do. It's a plant I really enjoy & I think is best planted where it gets seen close up, like near a doorway or path, and where there is contrasting bolder foliage nearby.

We like this one - you can substitute sherry for the wine if you like. Becky Lompoc, CA * Exported from MasterCook * Company Chicken-Artichoke Bake Recipe By : Serving Size : 6 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1/4 cup butter 6 skinned and boned chicken breast halves 1 cup chopped onion 1 clove minced garlic 3 tablespoons flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/4 cups chablis 1 cup chicken broth 3 ounces cream cheese 14 ounces artichoke hearts -- drained 1 pound sliced mushroom Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken, and cook 5 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove chicken from skillet, reserving pan drippings; place chicken in a 2-quart casserole. Set aside. Saute onion and garlic in reserved pan drippings until tender. Add flour and salt, stirring until smooth. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add wine and broth; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Add cream cheese, stirring until cheese melts. Remove from heat; set aside. Arrange halved artichoke hearts over chicken. Spoon cream cheese mixture over chicken and artichokes. Cool. TO STORE: Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. TO SERVE: Bake, covered, at 350F for 45 to 50 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with toasted almonds. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Re: cornmeal and ants. Have been having a problem with ants on my sunporch. They seem to be living underneath and coming up through cracks in the tile floor. There's no way for me to get to where they live to spray (and I don't like sprays anyway). So I mixed up some cornmeal and borax in a little deli container lid and left it near where they've been arriving. It's been about a week, and the problem has considerably slowed. BUT they seem to be 'burying their dead' in the cornmeal mixture. I've actually seen a live ant dragging and leaving a dead one there! and there were several little carcasses last I looked. But hey--if it works, without dangerous chemicals, or smells that will give me respiratory problems, I'm thrilled.

Thank you Jan! Some of these just do not lile the dryer conditions I have here in my house. Maybe a humidifier is in order. For all the losses, I still have 60 gorgeous Hoyas happily growing through out the house and my total plant count is somewhere north of 100. It wasn't like it made a huge dent, just darnit I want them all to live and thrive! Still, always a learning experience. And I appreciate the reminder that even green thumbs of your caliber have the occasional moments of disappointment too. ;) If all goes as planned, next week (or soon) I am going to get a new javanica from Gardinos. Then the balance will be restored, hahhaa. Well, unless Violet Barn gets linnearis back in stock, then I may satisfy myself with starter plants from them and a little Petrocosmea forestii. :D