[Purdue Pete]

Some of my neighbors pronounce it Pie-nees. That seems to be the favored southern Indiana pronunciation.

I did not know that tidbit about the ants. I just know that they are crawling with them, and are a big problem when you cut a bouquet for the dinner table. They are near impossible to de-ant!

[Radix]

I have to go for a while. I will be thinking about the Etruscans while I am away. meanwhile I found this article to be interesting. I could be wrong, but as you say, "jump in". "And now for something completely different"!...........http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,322588,00.html

[illstillbe]

Fill a bucket, Purdue Pete, with water ~~~ and then dunk them in head first ... will not hurt the blooms ... but does de-ant them!!

I have always thought it so wondrous ... the partnership between this near stately bloom ... and the wee ant.