Heather, I think you raised such an interesting point! I think the same thing happened to me growing up-- it was whole grain everything, all the time. We were literally forbidden to eat white bread. To this day, my mother is still pretending that whole wheat bread tastes better than white bread (while, of course, eating white bread whenever she can find an excuse, because refined carbs tasting good when your blood sugar is low is just the way we're built!!) Eating always felt like an incredible chore. I think it was partly because some of the bulk of whole wheat bread is indigestible (fiber), which means, as a child, you may get full (or sick of eating tasteless food) before getting enough calories. We were also raised mostly vegetarian, and the fact is most vegetarian kids don't get as much protein as meat-eating kids. Beans and cheese and such are moderate protein sources, but they are not as protein-dense as meat. Same problem as whole grains, I think, you may be full or feel sick from the fat content before getting a decent amount of protein. As an adult, I think a lot about protein. If I have even one meal without a high protein food, I don't feel very good. If I have two meals in a row without protein, I feel unfocused, a little nauseous, and my head hurts. Some people go years without really getting enough protein! So many people live a high-carb, low-protein lifestyle. I think it's somehow self-perpetuating-- like people get on this blood sugar rollercoaster where they eat all carbs, then their blood sugar drops, and they crave more carbs, and don't want protein. I think a healthy lifestyle is somewhere in between the bad-carb blood sugar rollercoaster and the white-flour-is-the-devil mantra-- where you listen to your body-- drink juice or get another refined-carb fix when your blood sugar is low, but in general, eat a decent amount of whole grains, protein foods, and produce. I commend you for seeking out more information and being willing to change your ideas! I think your kids are lucky. I also think if you expose them to a good mix of foods-- like if you cook them a protein food, a nice fresh veggie, and a whole grain, and have stuff like juice and fruit easily available to them, they'll be in great shape.

Floribundas like heat, why I suggested this and minis came through the heat better than any large rose I had excepting my floribundas:) When I read up on roses, I wanted to try something in addition to my minis I found out that they do better with heat than Hybrid Teas and I also found that the English Rose did pretty well that I had picked too. Something to mull over anyway. 3/4 of the minis I grow were hybridized here where I live, I figure they've already got a start on the heat and sun conditions from the mother plants and all the plants they sell from the tables out in the open:) I'm sorry about your Mums, I had read about that. Mine stayed lavenders but they're only a year old too. The small dahlias I picked did very well too out in full sun, but I also watered them daily. You were very sick for awhile and couldn't get out there, that had an impact I'm sure.

Hello again HollySprings. They ( the goats ) would as you said, INHALE Iceberg without taking a breath! Goats LOVE roses. Poison Ivy.......pure goat candy. We don't rent them out for brush work, but if my husband wasn't on a 60+ hour a week job, we may think of doing it one of these days. I hear it is becoming BIG business. For us, we have the kids, keep all the girls, and send most of the little bucks to market. There is no way you can keep all those, smelly rowdy boys around here. Unless of course I put the band to them! I prefer to keep my grazing grasses however for my producing does. I didn't think you would think much of Iceberg after going through the archives here! I suppose I will wait until next Spring to plant another rose in it's place.

Iceberg was too spotty where I am in NC, too, yeah. Sombreuil (Colonial White) is my choice for your requirements. Literally :) That's what I chose and she's just great there. Shade tolerance was why I actually went with white instead of yellow, because I knew Sombreuil might do. I don't know MAC personally. My Sombreuil only gets direct morning sun. (I'm trying The Pilgrim as a bush in a similar spot close by, but only time will tell whether that works out.)