i am not in iowa but i am right next door. i ordered plants from Ion Exchange for the first time last year. i also visited their nursery one day last summer. i ordered some jacobs ladder, some new jersey tea and some button bushes from them... i really have to battle the rabbits for the tea... but so far they keep growing back. have you tried northern sea oats (chasmanthium latifolium)? i have been thinking about adding that to some woodland edge plantings but i havent really seen it, except in pictures, so i have been hesitant to order it. i did plant some bottlebrush grass in my shady raingarden. but my wierdo dogs kept eating the tops off, so they didnt grow very tall. i have been using cayenne pepper to discourage rabbits, and i may need to use it on the bottlebrush grass to keep the dogs off, if i ever want to see any growth on it. i agree that height is often missing in shade beds. it makes sense to me, that plants that get less sunlight are probably less prone to big growth. a nice tall plant that does grow well in shade is culver's root (veronicastrum virginicum). i have used that for height in my shade beds. the bumble bees really love it. the white spires of culver's root contrasts nicely with the dark purple of tall ironweed (vernonia altissima) which also tolerates quite a bit of shade. the two mixed look really neat at night too.

Cheribelle, Your assessment of Symphony In Bloom mirrors mine on many levels. This used to be a wonderful garden show. Unfortunately, greed and social snobbery have ruined a good thing. Of course, years ago, this event was held in Rock Island, Illinois in a building right next to the Quad City Botanical Center. Although the facilities had some limitations, the show was wonderful. Then, a split came about and currently, there are two shows (probably one too many). Now, the Symphony In Bloom is held in Iowa and a competing show (being held April 1st, 2nd & 3rd) remains at the original Rock Island site. The Rock Island show is very well managed. I have been asked to speak at both shows in the past and everything about the Rock Island show was professional, accommodating and they showed appreciation. The speaking engagement for Symphony In Bloom was such a frustrating debacle of confusion, excuses and outrageous demands that I will NEVER attempt to work with those people again -- and those comments are pretty mild compared to most of the vendors who you no longer see at that show. I really embrace the concept of Symphony In Bloom and the charitable support that it gives to our local symphony orchestra. There are some dedicated, kind souls who are behind this fund-raiser. Unfortunately, there seems to be a whole herd of high-society twits that have taken over. A show like this is an organizational monster. It demands a lot of hard work by dedicated, focused people. Sadly, far too many of them focused on seeing their name in print because anything to do with hard work was certainly below their station in life. One year, most of the vendors providing the displays got so ticked off at getting their booth rates jacked-up that most of them pulled out. The show started its continuing decline. Although don't know this for a fact, there are strong rumors that this was their last year. Meanwhile, most of those same vendors are showing at the Rock Island event. Gosh ... It seems like I am writing for the National Inquirer! IronBelly

Hi Guys! Well, after the light dusting of snow that we had yesterday. It snowed last night and it's sticking now. The little ones bundled up in snow pants and the rest and headed out. They got their fill of snow, had hot choc and brownies and are vegging out now. On Friday, we hosted the neighborhood teens for a couple of movies, pizza, dino-nuggets and chat about whatever teens like to talk about. Then we built a fire and roasted a few marshmallows. After driving everyone home, we enjoyed the fire until it burned out. Tikanas: How's the vegan meal planning coming along with DS? I have to check out the cooking forum, I guess. Saturday, I spent fixing up a leg-o-lamb for company. I served it with roasted peppers and onions, with a big greek salad on the side. Appetizers were yellow and orange peppers wrapped in prosciutto and Soppressata salami and Asiago cheese bundles. It was all yummers and then we had a few pistachios and tiny, tiny brownies for dessert, along with some homemade hot buttered rums-----HEY!- it IS winter time here! I have been good with my diet and exercise all week and am down a pound. I decided to have fun one day a week and not beat myself up about it. From the beginning of the year, I just made myself a deal that, during 6 days of the week, I'll pose the question, "Is this GOOD for my body?" before I eat anything. The 7th day, I don't have to ask the question or go traveling on a guilt trip. I am tired of spending the last 8 years on a diet and am seeing how this works for me. The winter snow brightness has brought DH's mood back out of the depressions he faces in the winter overcast here, so things around the house are cheerier for now. Besh -as Jimmy Buffet would say, "I WANNA GO WHERE IT'S WARM!" lol. Just some constant sunlight would be great! Raeanne~ I have to thank you for the card, you sweet thing. You always brighten my day. You are such a thoughtful gal. ((((((((((Love ya)))))))))) Thanks so much. I am here today; I have at least 12 loads of laundry to do. Our family company left and there are sheets, towels, bedding, etc, etc, etc. I wish I had a BIG table to fold on! Why are laundry rooms so durned small? Marci~ I am supposed to read some specific books for the Expressions in Writing class I'm taking. I'll pass them on to you if they're good. One I read this summer was Knight in Rusty Armor. It'd be good for lots of guys I know to read! It's very easy to read and cute and reflective. In other news, my ex has decided to marry the girl he left his most recent wife for. They keep getting younger. (((SIGH))) Anyway, almost exactly 1 year after he divorced the last one, he's marrying again. I fear he'll never settle down, but he is super committed to our 2 girls, and they to him, so that's the best I can hope for. Neither DD is big on marriage, though, and I can see why! NHSuzanne~ Sister Gift with Words - You paint a calm picture. Thank you for the vision. My thought on the birthday exchange is that it should be easy. We're all busy chicks and we want to stay connected with ease. But I'd love to have a b-day pal and then ANOTHER pal that I could send cards and trinkets to on and off over the year. Fun mail is FUN mail! I'll go with the flow as long as I don't have to organize it! ------- ((((THANKS MARCI and MADDIE for all you do!)))))) Joanne and Gretchen! LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Thanks for checking in! Well, I better get something done around here! PS: John, we miss you -- still.

In 1969, in a tiny bathroom that lacked a sink, located in the hall outside our tiny apartment. I was recently married and a teacher when I learned of a book that was written as a hoax, each chapter by a different writer. "Naked Came the Stranger" was written in the attempt to prove that any book could sell, no matter how badly written, if it included enough trite sex. I took the book to the bathroom to read the first chapter while I was otherwise occupied, and after that chapter I never deemed the book worthy of escaping the bathroom. Here is the Wiki description of the book and its authors: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_Came_the_Stranger I'm amused that the title came to me as soon as I read this thread's question. The book did sell well even before the hoax was revealed.