Sharon: THANK YOU FOR THOSE FANTASTIC PICTURES !! I also did red-cabbage test today Sat. 7/25/20. Distilled water boiled in red cabbage is actually acidic according to on-line info. "Pure distilled water should be neutral with a pH of 7, but because it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, it's actually slightly acidic with a pH of 5.8." From your pictures above, the grayish blue solution is alkaline with pH 7.5. My pH 7.7 clay is a bit bluer (tested by Earth Corp. soil testing company). Black, gray, or clear solution is neutral pH .. means it's a fantastic buffer (good for plants). I tested COMPOSTED grass clippings and it's clear water above black solution. Buffer is great to neutralize the acidity of rain. Clay buffers better than sand/loamy soil, but the best buffer is composted organic matter. Coffee is also a buffer (at first pinkish, but after 20 min., it's a clear solution). COMPOSTED plant-matter is very alkaline and neutralizes acidic rain well. COMPOSTED leaves decompose to alkaline pH, when I stuffed a bunch of leaves in LOAMY & fluffy soil .. the next year that got converted into HARD CLAY, very alkaline. Green grass clippings stay fluffy longer (more nitrogen & more acidic). Brown leaves are considered "carbon" in a compost pile, and decompose to alkaline pH & hard like clay. My tap-water in red-cabbage is VERY BLUE, it's at pH 9 as stated on village's website. I also tested baking soda and it's more blue than my tap-water. I tested paver's sand or yellow coarse sand, and it's slightly alkaline. I tested composted manure and it's very alkaline (from the lime added to deodorize and kill weeds in the bag). The pH of composted manure is just as alkaline as my clay at pH 7.7. Your LAST pic. is slightly acidic. Rain-water is even more acidic & reddish purple. Rain water here is pH 4.5. I also tested some drops of vinegar and it's fuchsia red around pH 3. All my rooting-soil for cuttings are black or clear solution at neutral pH (they have lots of yellow sand or vermiculite mixed in). The clay taken from diseased & black spotted roses are slightly acidic, rather than blue like my pH 7.7 clay. I had tested 5 different roses with black spots in the past, and the soil taken from the root level is pinkish in red-cabbage juice. It's either acidic rain can't drain well from that spot, or else there's NOT enough buffer to neutralize the heavy rain going down.

That's the money shot - right there! How lovely on all levels. my3dogs is giving great advice - I have no doubt that you can find a fabric that will work as well if you get to the right person/people to help you. It may end up being an expensive fabric that you can find only through places like the Mart, but honestly - that particular stripe and blue make it worth it and fortunately you don't need yards and yards. Chicago Merchandise Mart General Information 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 470 Chicago, IL 60654 800.677.6278 http://www.mmart.com/mmart/index.cfm Here is a link that might be useful: Baker Knapp & Tubbs

Jane Churchill is English and her fabrics are very traditional and fairly pricy. I have seen it at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago but never in a retail store. I don't know about this fabric but I would say her fabrics could be in the 60 dollars a yard range but I haven't priced it in a while.

I understand and appreciate the feedback on using botanical nomenclature. The friend that offered the plant referred to it as peanut butter plant. That's why I used the common name. I think I'll pass on this one! Thanks to all who responded. This is one of my favorite forums! Judy