I'm also curious about whether the Z-pak helped you. The flu is a virus which is not affected by antibiotics. When I had the flu a month ago I was prescribed Tamiflu. It was pricey but worked great. Walgreens is experiencing growth partly because they understand the concept of "local" and customer service. In the Chicago area we're talking great distances and horrendous traffic so it's wonderful to have a freestanding place in the neighborhood. They also carry so many other items that around here it's becoming the 21st century corner store. Our Walgreens has instituted a great service. Directly across from the pharmacy counter they've created a space for a mini-urgent care practice. There's a small reception area and two small examining rooms that are home to nurse-practioners. You can stop in with minor health problems - colds, flu and such. The nurses can prescribe medications or suggest over the counter products. They seem to be doing a brisk business treating kids with the sniffles and things like that. I woke up the day before our cruise feeling like my sinuses were on fire. I had stopped at Walgreens to pick up some of our regular meds and saw the mini-urgent care and signed up. The nurse suggested an over the counter med and also gave me a script for a nasal spray. All in all I was very pleased with the convenience and speed. Otherwise I would have needed to drive all the way to the other side of town and sat in the waiting room at urgent care for way over an hour.

Thanks, Remy, that is correct. The plant is next to an oxalis. The leaves are long and oblong opposite each other on the stem with blunt ends. I think Carol23 is correct, the plant being Valeriana ozarkana, especially since I live in the SW Missouri part of the Ozark Mountains. Thanks Carol! Jill

Top photo is a member of the Orchid Family, Goodyera pubescens (Rattlesnake Plantain). I believe you are correct about the bottom photo, appears to be Monarda didyma (Scarlet Bee Balm) Both are showy Natives, found in many locations throughout the SE. Good photos!

Is Frilled Puccoon the same as Fringed Puccoon? The Prairie Smoke is a gorgeous plant. I would love to have a field of them. Can you imagine? The Flame Acanthus is very pretty. I love that the foliage stays nice all summer in this drought, too. It just keeps on trucking no matter what. I wonder how it will do in a wet year - like we get a lot of those. 2007 was the only one I recall ever. I have a new Salvia darcyi and it is bloomin' like crazy this year - not a native, but tolerate heat and drought pretty well. Well, except for Black & Blue, which likes its regular watering. I am having such a horrible problem with Southern Pink Moth this year, that I almost want to give up on them, though. They really cause a lot of damage, and the blooms get eaten, too. I dare not spray due to my "butterfly friendly" environment. They seem to have taken up residence in my garden, and spraying or sprinkling BT is not an option. Black & Blue they adore, and they have also taken a loving to 'Lady in Red'. So far, they have not eaten much of S. darcyi, so maybe they don't prefer it. I haven't been able to water as much as I would like this past month or so due to daughter's illness. Still, all has survived. The Verbesina encelioides has marched on thru the drought. I keep hoping for Bordered Patch butterflies, but have barely had any butterflies this year. The Flame Acanthus is host to the Texan Crescent butterfly, but none of those this year either. My natives that really suffer without water and the extreme heat are False Nettle aka Boehmeria cylindrica (for the Red Admirals), Ptelea trifoliata, a native small tree, host for Giant Swallowtails, my new plants, Dooryard Plantain or Plantago major (Buckeyes), Verbesina alternifolia or Wingstem, Hibiscus coccineus, Buttonbush or Cephalanthus occidentalis, and Liriodendron tulipifera. or Tulip Tree, Wild Cherry tree (Prunus serotina), and Lindera benzoin or Spicebush, which completely died. Some of these most folks would not plant, so I don't often mention them as suggested natives to grow. However, they are butterfly and/or moth nectar and host plants that I continue to struggle with. The Spicebush is one I have attempted 3 times now, and probably will not try again. But other members of this family (Lauraceae) are difficult, too, so there is not really a good alternative. Is anyone planning to do any fall plantings? Susan