She began the tradition of wearing red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation, also selling poppies and giving the money to a charity benefitting servicemen in need. The tradition of wearing poppies spread and is now practiced in many countries on their own days of remembrance.

Not only did Ms. Michael start the tradition of wearing poppies, she also seems to be responsible for the tradition of selling them to benefit servicemen in need. Many veterans' organizations will be selling them for this Memorial Day. They aren't expensive but they are very valuable. Buy one, wear it at the barbecue or party, and remember what our freedom costs.

By Tamara Galbraith

I can tell you honestly that it was a great day in my professional life when the dress code no longer included any hint of pantyhose.

That day also provided a gardening revelation: several new (and slightly vengeful) ways of re-using nylons to my advantage. So, if you're going through a pantyhose rebellion (or still use them but have some old ones you would have thrown out) - consider these smart ways to make stockings work for you:

Use as plant ties. Pantyhose are soft and stretchy, and are perfect for tying up those floppy tomato plants or vining fruits and flowers. Simply cut into small strips and tie loosely where needed.

Use as slings. For example, melons grow better elevated off of the ground, when good air circulation and heat surround the entire fruit. For smaller melons, use a pantyhose "sling" to tie the fruit up and off of the soil.

Use as a barrier. For stem-chewing insects like cutworms and squash vine borers, a binding of pantyhose around the plant where the stem meets the soil can help prevent these munchers from getting access to the VIP lounge. The stocking will stretch as the plant grows.

Use as a strainer or "tea bag." If you're an organic gardener who likes to make your own "teas," i.e. alfalfa, compost, etc., the foot end of an old pair of pantyhose makes a great pouch for brewing gardening teas.

So, don't just throw your old stockings in the trash. Show those little nylon torture devices what "control" really is! (And remember, any leftover toe fluff can probably be considered organic....)

• When purchasing edible flowers, make sure they have been organically sprayed. You do not want to eat them if they've been sprayed with pesticides. Do not use flowers from a florist for cooking.

• Pick herbs and flower blossoms in the morning, just after the dew has dried and before the heat of the day has made them limp.

• When herbs begin to blossom, the flavor of the herb itself often starts to fade. Keep some plants well cut for their leaves (such as basil), and allow others to flower if you want to use the blossoms. Harvest buds and blossoms to prevent plants from bolting or going to seed.

• Both flowers and herbs should be gently washed and well dried before use.

• Large flower blossoms, unless you are stuffing them, should be cut into slivers for easier eating and a more pleasant texture. Remove the stems of the flower, and the stamen if it is large or tough.

• Fresh herbs contain volatile oils that are easily cooked out. Add them toward the end of cooking time (about the last ten minutes or so).

• Variety in planting your herb garden translates to variety on the dinner table. Experiment with different herbs and flowers from the same species and you'll be rewarded with a full range of tastes and colors.

By Tamara Galbraith

Looking to add a bit of tall, tropical flavor to your landscape? Consider cannas.

These willowy beauties will add both height and drama to your garden. The reds, yellows, oranges and pinks of the floppy flowers are occasionally rivaled by startlingly gorgeous banana-like foliage that comes in wild stripes, deep burgundies or creamy variations.

Feel free to plant cannas in the ground or in a large container, as they do well in either culture. (There are also aquatic cannas that, as the name suggests, prefer boggy, pond conditions.)

No matter what type of canna you favor, moisture is a big factor, as is soil fertility. Keep them well-watered, and feed with Gro Power Flower 'N Bloom; follow instructions on the bag.

Sun and heat are also must-haves for cannas - remember, these are tropical plants, so the more you can create a Florida-like atmosphere, the better. In our area, we can leave canna bulbs in the ground all year round.

Given the right conditions, cannas provide tall, supermodel looks - gorgeous hot colors on tall, curvy foliage - with only a fraction of the high-maintenance attitude.

Dr. Earth Super Natural Lawn Fertilizer is a superior, homogenous blend of fish meal, fish bone meal, feather meal, potassium sulfate, alfalfa meal, calcium sulphate, seaweed extract, micorrhizae and beneficial soil microbes.

This is a wonderful fertilizer. Dr. Earth promotes a hardy root system, thereby adding life to your lawn. It also controls thatch build up. Best of all, it contains mychorrizae that grow in your soil, greatly enhancing the quality of environment for the soil that your lawn grows in.

• Controls thatch build up by digesting thatch (the organic debris layer produced by grass roots, stolons, and blades). This layer is located between the vegetative layer and the soil layer.
• Adds life to lawns by providing a broad spectrum of beneficial soil microbes plus three micorrhizae strains. This ensures nutrients are made available to the grass roots more effectively and at a steady rate, even under stressful conditions (such as drought, low nutrient availability, poor soil structure, etc.).
• Promotes a hardy root system in two ways. First, it stimulates roots to grow deeper in the soil to absorb the organic nutrients made available by Super Natural. Second, micorrhizae develop a symbiotic relationship with the grass roots, causing the root system to expand tremendously. With an expanded root system, more nutrients and moisture are available.
• Fast results, plus continuous feeding for up to three months.
• 100% natural and organic.
• People and pet safe.

Use to feed:
Newly seeded lawns, newly laid sod lawns, cool season grasses, warm season grasses, St. Augustine, fescue, and blue grass.

An 18 pound bag covers 2000 square feet.