Animal control is doing it's absolute best. The staff there and the administrators who run the organizations are at least as well educated re the overall situation of cat over-population as any of us. They resort to euthanasia because they understand it is the most humane option for unwanted animals. If you have an unwanted cat, take it to your local animal control center and let them deal with it in the most educated and humane way possible. People make it seem like "kill" shelters are the evil option. They aren't sitting waiting, drooling, over their next batch of stray cats they get to kill. They have exhausted all other options, and known that euthanasia, while unpleasant, is better than the other alternatives. If you are going to bother putting a stray cat in your car and transporting it somewhere, please take it to the nearest shelter--kill or no-kill. And offer a donation while you are there.

Thanks for making it no longer OT, morz8, especially about the SPURS as I have to fish harder for words now. That is one gorgeous columbine; I purchased the pretty common yellow one, see can't think of the name, McKanna's Giant, that grows well for everyone else around here, even out in almost full sun, and mine are declining, probably because they're on the side of the garage under the eaves but there is a drip line or something else wrong there. The bleeding heart does fine surrounded by spring forget-me-nots that self seed well there, even into the grass. I was going to try to WS Nora Barlow, and I love that little dark blue & white Winky? but it's pretty short. If I go back to reread what you wrote, I may lose this, sorry I made it so long again, but have you had any luck WS'ing the Longissima? I love true blue flowers. Would love to grow that one blue salvia with the black as an annual. Guess I started an eclectic, crazy thread here. Anyway, I DARE anyone to try to grow this beauty from seed, no that's not nice, it's almost impossible. I ordered 5 bulbs, they came up 2 springs now, foilage dies back (normal), then is supposed to shoot up a bloom stalk really fast in the fall. Mine won't bloom. Guy in Peoria south and east of me has them all over his yard! I did a lot of reading about it on the web, people who have tried to grow them from seed, too much to go into, no luck; these are dedicated plant hobbyists/professionals. It only propagates from bulb divisions. Lycoris Squagimera. This is a slide from a photo essay I did about wrecking the environment. I found these beauties, 3 clumps in a field outside of town, and they've all been destroyed, did a photo essay on it. OMG, I had to look up the name for McKanna's and look at the gorgeous columbines I found at Swallowtail. Oh dear, I guess I'll have to order some more :-(. Look at that blue one! Oh, my a blue and white one, too, what shall I do? Here is a link that might be useful: Columbines at Swallowtail

Yes, Deb, I'm in eastern WA. I live in Spokane. My brothers, on the other hand, live over by you, but not quite in Seattle (although my oldest brother wants to move to Seattle in the not-too-distant future.) He thinks Seattle is such a cool city. I agree with him!! :) I'm very sorry that you have strep throat. That is miserable stuff. :( I just hate it whenever I come down with it. Sounds like you are making the best of it, though. Take good care, and I hope you are feeling better really soon. Debbie

reminds me of lessons learned #77: a good tradesperson knows where he has put things, he remembers where things are, he can tell you why certain things are where they are along the way.