Masses of calendula for spring - maybe blue batchelor's buttons or blue Larkspur and something white for contrast? Four'o'clocks, Balsam impatiens and nicotiana for an abundance of fragrant flowers in summer, along with edibles and herbs. Hardy hibiscus. Helenium, malva zebrina, and/or strawflowers for late summer and fall. I'm in awe. What great ideas (and I didn't think of ONE). Questions: Why four 'o clocks? I don't know much about them. I have a few seeds from trades - broken colors, butter yellow, pink. Should I look for particular color(s). Any recommendations about yellow flowering calendulas? I did think about how to connect the long BES/rud driveway bed to the front bed so there is a continuous bed, with breaks to get between and through them. I thought about Lynda and how she designed her front and side yard beds - creating many beds with plenty of space between them. But when I thought about what to plant, I went blank, then thought --poppies! THE END.

We have a 3 year old lab, she's never gotten a hot spot, but last spring she started chewing her paws raw. I didn't want to constantly medicate her with a borage of antihistamines that may or may not work, so the vet suggested we have her tested for outdoor allergies instead. The results showed she's allergic to 3-4 types of grass, a couple of different mites and all forms of yeast. Based on those results, the testing company mixed an antibody medicine that is specifically designed for her. This is her first spring on it and so far, we haven't seen her chewing at all. And the bonus was discovering her allergy to yeast. Since puppyhood, she has always battled ear infections; none of the antibiotics would work and now we know why. Yeast, especially Brewers Yeast, is in so many of their foods and treats. The test was about $200, the medicine is $175 for a 6 month supply. A bit costly I guess, but it's been almost a year since her last ear infection so we're saving a lot of money in that regard plus it was a healthier fix for our girl. My point is (sorry for the long winded story) maybe since you know your Labs issue is outdoor related, having the test would remove the guess work and offer a fix that's actually designed to meet your dogs needs.

Tiffany, I planted them in March 24th. We've had an usually hot summer that started super early this year, like no springtime really occurred! Hah. But I bought them at the nursery and I tried to get Iris & Hyacinth at the same time and they said they didn't carry them till fall, cause that's when they have to be planted. I figured Glads would have been included in that equation as well? Adrian: How can I know if they rotted or not? Jean: Here's some pictures: http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/metallic_alchemist/DSCF0008.jpg http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/metallic_alchemist/DSCF0004.jpg How the flower buds look: http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/metallic_alchemist/DSCF0007.jpg They were all planted at the same time, but for some reason this one is considerably smaller. A couple of them seemed stunted in their growth. http://s66.photobucket.com/user/metallic_alchemist/media/DSCF0006.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2 I actually did notice some things flying around by them and when I go out to water, there are like fly things that fly around them. I've seen them in other pots as well, on my backporch. I think they're connected with my mulch cause I've only ever seen them once I've mulched a plant. Not sure if that helps at all. Can thrips fly? If they are thrips, how do I get rid of them? I have neem oil spray... Thanks for your guys' help!

Mayoclinic.org says this about home remedies: ”If you want to try an over-the-counter fade cream, choose one that contains hydroquinone, glycolic acid or kojic acid. Some products, especially those that contain hydroquinone, may cause skin irritation.” If the licorice extract is a typical OTC product it might include a bit of one of the above ingredients and be minimally effective. I’m guessing that licorice probably won’t be the “active” ingredient, just the hook to buy. Check out the ingredients list before you waste your money.