Al, thanks for the gallows humor! Brightened my morning! ;) I think Mike has made an accurate assessment of the situation. The dangers of radon in the kitchen are hyperbolic, but that's not the issue. The issue is that the fear-mongering is a tangential attack on the potting mixes that incorporate granite. If we keep the topic on target, we quickly realize that there is a very, very, very low (miniscule) risk of radon in a mix. Another point that I'd like to address, and I apologize for not returning to this topic sooner: "No one trusts the tests by the Marble Institute. Its like the cigarette companies saying smoking doesn't cause cancer. I believe I read in Europe, granite must be tested before installing in the home." - Plenty of folks do trust the Marble Institute. Speaking in absolutes is seldom accurate. - In this case, it would be more accurate to say that this is like Cigarette Companies saying that smoking doesn't cause "all" the cancers that are attributed to smoking.... Further, the EPA is a garbage agency. Many, many folks mistrust the EPA and the harms it has caused by enacting policy based on hyperbolic, uncorroborated, and junk science. It is ironic to point the finger at the Marble Institute, while lauding the EPA. Again: Granite chips, in containers, pose an insignificant risk to users. To add: when sifting any ingredients - peat, turface, perlite, quartz, coco, or bark - always use caution to avoid inhaling fine particulate. Practice common sense. Josh

Thanks, linnea & NHBabs. Lots of great ideas, thanks SO MUCH, everyone, for all your suggestions. My space is small so it may take me several years of experimenting with 1 type of plant per year. Gardengal & linnea, you recommend H. Firefly & I see seeds readily available, tho' the online sellers with the best reputations show red blooms & the sellers w/ less than the best rep show the pinkish-red that I want. Hmm. Swallowtail shows reddish blooms & says "full sun in the North and part shade in the South." I hope to try it & see if I have enough sun in my shade garden. NHBabs & peren.all, I like your rec of H. sanguinea species or the old-fashioned sanguinea but online sellers seem to offer the newer named varieties. I do see seeds of a pink 'Bressingham hybrid,' which sellers claim was created using an old-fashioned one & claim is one of the few hybrids that will grow true from seed. Similar question about light - I will have to try it. The seller that I see with the best rep is Garden Harvest Supply on the link below. NHBabs, I LOVE your idea of finding a perennial that provides contrast with the hostas in color, size & texture, yet echoes one of the hosta leaf colors to keep things from looking too busy. Great idea - to be worked on. Thanks, everyone, appreciate your help! Seed for pink H. Bressingham hybrid at Garden Harvest Supply http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/productcart/pc/bressingham-hybrid-heuchera-seeds-for-sale-p6016.htm Walters says "full sun or partial shade" for Bressingham, will have to see if I have enough light http://www.perennials.com/plants/heuchera-bressingham-hybrids.html Firefly at Swallowtail Garden Seeds (Ruby Bells is first, scroll down to Firefly) http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/perennials/coral_bells.html#gsc.tab=0

Oh, Dave, those kitchen windows! My last apartment was on the 8th floor, and the living room had no dark corners to forget a plant in because of its 4' high windows along the 10' west and 25' north exposure of the main room (except for a few 1.5 foot stretches of wall), so I was constantly reminded to pay attention to them. I had to install solar film on the west windows because they made most of the room so hot it was completely unusable about 2/3 of the year, but the walls of windows made it so bright all day that even without direct light and with me having no idea how to take care of green things except to fertilize every once in a while, plants looked hearty and tolerated my clumsy efforts at pruning, and my little cuttings became little trees in what seemed like no time. I don't regret fleeing because an evil property management company bought the building, but I've sorely missed that place. I've been thinking about moving for a long time, but maybe I'll finally get around to it next spring or summer now that I have another reason to move somewhere brighter and nicer. Okay, now back to our usual programming!

Oh, Frosted! Be careful! I know, it's too late now, you've already messed up. Just kidding, so sorry about your back. Man you have to be so careful. I hope it resolves quickly. Back pain is no fun. I like that floor lamp and hope, in due time, you get it together and it does just the trick. My hubby was doing some "work outside" items and man he scared me. I told him, we don't want a trip to the ER because the shovel hit your toe or some such thing. He just doesn't get he can't do what he used to do. Yikes! I am praying our above degree temperatures down here will help kill this doggone virus. So far, our immediate area doesn't have much at all. Of course, we have our share of "stupid" people who make it hard on everyone else! grrrr! Stay safe everyone. Happy Day!