nod702 - you make it too difficult i find a mower sitting at the curb few times\summer. I also know a repair place where in the back lot he has all kinds of motors- old cub cadet riders (too bad they have been stripped for many parts) to recent push mowers & tillers @ $20 and $10 respectively. also i know another deere dealer that has a long row of riders of non deere riders. i asked whats up and if i could buy one for parts and he sold me one for $20. (turns out the last owner tried 'fixing' it and the OHV lifters were misaligned else there was nothing wrong with it) I still have more than 1 mowers\riders\trimmers\etc cuz i sold some of my apt buildings and kept my toys. With the other apt buildings i still have, i rotate them for maintainance\repair.

There are many variations - but I suspect that yours may be starting slowly from too much heat. Can you arrange some shade/filtered sun using other plants nearby? If you started from seed, Allium can look like tiny grass the first year when it sprouts - so be careful not to pull grass-like seedlings in that area! Yes, for several years new seed and small bulbs will grow larger and be more rewarding each season. And if you cut (mince and eat like chives) the leaves about the point where they flop, you may find that your Allium begins to feed bulbs and multiply from the base. The flowers will throw seed - or you can collect the seed when it begins to dry - and perhaps begin seedlings indoors, or in shade before planting out, to minimize heat-struggle. Flowering Stalks should be firm - so provide mulch &/or Am water if possible. Once flowering begins, it is normal for leaves to flop and die back to feed bulbs. We have opposite problems. I recently moved massive droopy peonies that were not blooming enough, and some over-vigorous clumps of ornamental Allium (medium size purple-globes) to the sunny front garden, and took care - so that the ground does not parch in peak sun...as that is the only spot where that is a risk for me. I added compost and to help hold moisture, and bulbs are aided by a top moist mulch, and the variety of other plants all around for filtered shade at the base. I intend to eat most of the spicy leaves as I don't care for more Sword-play in my garden by late spring - after masses of tulips, narcissus, and hycinths have quit and the lillies and iris are taking over...and Crocosmia ileaves are waiting to join the dance. I'm adding a Dahlia border to the sword beds...and am excited that a Bachelor's button has already pushed thru the mass of swords to bloom cutely. All are worth growing - in their display seasons. Growth and dormant seasons is balanced with other Perennials and annuals. Adding sheer Dahlia foliage mass to existing Roses and monster Rhodies - and by gosh, there's not much dang subtlety about who rules each season in this section of the urban rain forest. Whoo-ah...now to get back to that rain-or-shine deadheading - or the jungle-look will rule. Having so much Spring rain in the PAC NW - we wind up with too much foliage & dense shade unless we deadhead, prune, pull, divide and hack back plants regularly. Wonder if I'll get the courage to prune that lush Magnolia this year - for more light?

I agree that all distracted drivers should be more careful, but I've seen way too many go through red lights, not look when they turn in front of me because they're on their cell phone. I've also seen people driving too slow, swerving, etc...while talking or fighting? with a passenger. Cell phones just annoy me, I guess. People bring them to work and spend half their time on their phones instead of doing their jobs. Lauren and I had to listen to some loud-mouthed woman on her cell phone last week in a doctor's office when Alex was in the back. I was trying to read a magazine but instead I got to listen to her "private" conversation. People blocking aisles at the grocery store and totally oblivious to what they're doing because they're so immersed in their private conversation on their cell phone. Once I was in a restroom stall and a woman next to me was talking on her phone. At first I thought she was talking to me! LOL! It's just getting ridiculous. People texting in movie theaters, the light is really annoying when you're trying to watch the movie. Why did you pay all that money to watch a movie and then turn around and play with your phone? I wish they would outlaw them while driving and maybe in restaurants and movie theaters too. I do have a cell phone but keep it in my car for emergencies only...or to call the kids occationally if I'm out somewhere. Never while I'm driving and I don't take it with me into stores or restaurants. I don't understand why people want to be available 24-7 like that. It would drive me crazy. Maybe I'm just getting old.

Sorry Whitney, don't get over here often anymore! Cold impacts different peonies in different ways--the vast majority aren't injured by cold unless it gets down into the 20s. Once the buds have formed on most of them though the buds are more apt to be damaged by cold. The only ones that don't seem to be impacted at that point are the very early species peonies. There is also another peony forum on www.garden.org that is more active if anyone is interested. Also free and also a nice group of avid peony growers! If you don't get a response quickly on one forum try the other; there are also several great peony groups on Facebook as well. Planet Peony is a favorite and we also just started a new one--American Peony Society group. I will warn you, though--it can be fatal to your wallet to see all of the gorgeous pics shared there!