Blue Danube wild hyacinth is a stunning naturalizer
Blue Danube wild hyacinth (Camassia leichtlinii subsp. suksdorfii ‘Blauwe Donau’, Zones 4–9) blooms in late May into June with large spikes of prominent, numerous blue florets that feature yellow stamens. Blooming above clumps of narrow leaves, these many flowers are supported on stout 30- to 36-inch-tall stems and open from the bottom to the top of the stem. Also commonly called great camas, this species prefers fertile, humus-rich, moist, and well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. Ample moisture is vital for this easy, naturalizing bulb, which provides the perfect shade of blue in spring gardens. There are many other Camassia selections available that are also worth exploring.
Corn leaf iris delivers long-lasting blooms above unique foliage in early spring
Corn leaf iris (Iris bucharica and cvs., Zones 4–8) is a bulbous species with a lot of charm in early spring when its lightly scented, long-lasting yellow and white flowers unfurl. Flowering begins at the end of the stem and continues downward. The V-notched leaves of this plant are in an interesting, stacked format, which looks similar to corn foliage—hence the common name. The top of the foliage (later going dormant) is quite glossy, and this species, native to Central Asia, is both deer and drought tolerant. Corn leaf iris grows to 16 to 18 inches tall and 12 inches wide and prefers full sun to partial shade. Note that it is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.
Time is of the essence as planting season is quickly ending.
Hello readers, I’m back at it after a lengthy layoff. My first post on my return is one whose subject is quite important to me, breast cancer. Do you know someone afflicted with it? I do. So, what can you do about it?
Each year in the United States, more than 200,000 women get breast cancer, and more than 40,000 women die from the disease. Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women.
Because of personal and family medical history, some women are at higher risk for breast cancer. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point.
Here are the main breast cancer symptoms to watch out for.
Skin irritation or dimpling
A rough patch of skin that feels scaly or thicker than usual or skin that starts to dimple can signal breast cancer, says Joseph Weber, MD, a breast surgical oncologist at Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee. With some breast cancers, channels that go from the inside of the breast to the skin become blocked, resulting in skin changes that make the breast look like it’s covered with an orange peel.
Breast or nipple pain
Many things can cause pain in your breasts or nipples, like PMS, pregnancy, or even menopause. But if you notice persistent pain along with other breast cancer symptoms, it’s important to report the experience to your doctor—regardless of if it’s a sharp twinge or a dull ache.
Nipple retraction
Some breast cancers will cause what’s called nipple inversion or retraction, in which the nipple turns inward. Typically, that’s because a mass is growing inside the breast and changes its shape, Dr. Weber explains. In the recent research, 7 percent of the women who were diagnosed with breast cancer reported nipple abnormalities.
Nipple discharge
Another possible nipple abnormality can be discharge that’s not breast milk. Nipple discharge is, thankfully, most often not cancer, but it’s important to see a doctor immediately if the discharge comes out without you touching or squeezing the nipple, especially if it’s bloody and only affecting one side.
Color or texture changes
This can include redness, darkening, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin. One type of breast cancer called Paget disease—a rare form that starts at your breast ducts and spreads to the nipple and areola—is often accompanied by a rash.
Swelling of all or part of a breast
Inflammatory breast cancer often starts with red, inflamed skin that swells as cancer cells clog the vessels that carry lymph fluid.
One bit of good news: fewer women are getting breast cancer than ever before. “Cancer is not an inevitability. Women have more control over the disease than they think,” says Margaret I. Cuomo, MD, author of A World Without Cancer. “Everything we do from the moment we wake—from what we eat and drink to whether or not we exercise and avoid BPA, parabens, and other carcinogenic chemicals—is a factor that can turn on or off the genetic switches in our bodies, including ones that could lead to cancer. The risk of many cancers, including breast cancer, can be significantly reduced by living a healthy lifestyle.”
But lifestyle choices, diet, stress levels and exercise all play a role in your overall chances of developing breast cancer — and they are in your hands.
