"Jersey" reacts to the news that she's on the short list for release.

Odds & Ends & Dates to Remember

There’s lots of activity surrounding the hospital, beach program and all things connected to it. Here’s what’s going on and what’s on tap for the next few months.

Topsail Turtle Project. As of this writing we’re still nest-less, but we’re challenging all those mama turtles to be the one to lay the first nest and to do it on Mother’s Day. Hey – it’s happened in the past. But honestly, since the water temperature is lower than it usually is at this time of the year, it will take one ambitious lady turtle on a mission, (maybe her name is Hillary?), to fulfill that dream.

There’s good news and bad news from those in the know and those plying the open waters off our shore. There are big turtles out there looking for love. The bad news is that, since the mid-90’s we have seen an ongoing decline in the number of nests all along the southern Atlantic shores. The population of “northern” Loggerheads, those that frequent the waters of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia are decreasing. That’s according to studies and statistics from The National Marine Fisheries Service, and our own eyes and records sadly support that. But our beach walkers are nonetheless fired up and out there in force every day, determined to protect the turtles that do make it in.

New Turtle Hospital: It’s been slow and sometimes painful, but we’re finally seeing discernible progress towards our new facility in Surf City. The wetlands studies have been done and approved by the Corps of Engineers. We are working with our engineering firm, Cavanaugh & Associates, to secure all the state permits necessary for the site work. The architect is poring over the design for the hospital area of the new building, and we’re focusing on being as “green” as we can possibly be. Watch for detailed updates as we tweak our plans and start clearing the land on our way towards our state-of-the-art facility.

The interns are coming, the interns are coming: The summer interns are scheduled to start their 12-week program beginning May 25th, and boy, do we all need a rest. Taking care of 27 turtles all winter, many of them humongous loggerheads wore us out. It looks like the interns will get an easy start, as most of our patients will be out the door in June. Unfortunately it doesn’t stay that way for long. You’ll get to meet each intern over the course of the summer in this column, and when we’re open to visitors in the not too distant future.

Open wide and say “let me out of here.” The pre-release physicals are scheduled for May 20th. We’ll have the full Tuesday crew on hand, (all 8 of us), plus Wendy Cluse and Matthew Godfrey from the state will be doing the weighing, measuring and tagging.

Our turtle vet, Dr. Craig Harms will shepherd in his vet students, needles in hand for the blood-work.

Definitely not going in the first wave are: Ambassador Lennie (our permanent resident), Carter, Boater, Eight and Snow. All the other patients have their flippers crossed hoping they pass their final exams.

Want a new Suzuki? For the fourth year we are again one of the Wilmington area non-profit groups selected to take part in the Bruce Cavenaugh Suzuki Charity Raffle. A $20 ticket will give you the chance to win one of two 2008 Suzukis: a Grand Vitara or an SX4. Bruce even pays the sales tax, license, title and registration fees, along with any other normal new car fees.

All you have to do is pick up your Suzuki on June 25th and drive it home. The best thing about this event, other than winning a car, is that 100% of the money from the tickets you buy from us will go back to the hospital, and even if you don’t win the car the purchase price is considered a charitable deduction. Tickets sold by the Turtle Hospital are currently available, through June 6th, at the Topsail Chamber of Commerce on the causeway. And any hospital volunteer you know will gladly get you tickets – all the tickets you want! We will also be selling tickets at the Sneads Ferry Food Lion on May 24th (after 3:00 PM), and beginning at 10 AM on May 25th, May 31st and June 1st. 

Yard Sale: Planned for the Labor Day weekend, (August 30-31), so if you find any treasures during your Spring cleaning that you’d like to put up for adoption, please put them aside until I can pass along more details. Sorry, we can’t accept large appliances, mattresses or clothing.

Lobster Dinner and Auction: On our calendar for Saturday, October 25th. Put it on your calendar, and if you can donate to our live or silent auction we’d appreciate the support.

Seen a turtle – or tracks? Please report all sea turtle activity (nestings, strandings, injured turtles or hatchings) to our Director of Beach Operations, Terry Meyer @ 910-470-2880.

Hospital closed until June: It won’t be long until we throw open our doors again to our adoring public. Until then you can visit us on-line at: www.seaturtlehospital.org.

About this column: It’s always helpful to get feedback from the readers of this column and thankfully, it’s been overwhelmingly positive. Out-of-state residents frequently e-mail me to tell me they enjoy reading the stories on-line and that they always pick up the print versions when they’re in town. Some have even tracked me down at the hospital to let me know how much they’ve fallen in love with our turtles since reading about them.

There are two readers who really “made my day.” One told me that when she reads the stories, “I feel like I’m working there.” The other was a young mother who said the only thing her 8-year-old son willingly reads “is comic books and the turtle interviews.”

I’m sure you all have preferences for the kinds of stories you enjoy reading, as well as what you don’t like. But unless you tell me the message is not always complete, or completely clear, just like that old game of “telephone.”

If there’s something you think I need to hear please contact me directly at: flippers@embarqmail.com.

We aim to please, at least please the majority of you!

"Ambassador Lennie" sits on my lap while his tank is being cleaned.

If the turtle hospital were a small town, it would have its very own mini-water treatment plant. Turtle tank water is constantly recycled, and in the process it’s run through an ozonator, as well as numerous highly effective filtration systems that kill bacteria, viruses and fungus. Because our system runs 24/7, filtering and treating incoming and outgoing water, our patients are constantly cavorting under their warm showers.

But all that automation came to a crashing halt when the float switch on one of our tanks failed. As soon as the water quit flowing, we were met with anxious and questioning turtle faces. Although “Cora” seemed to relish her ability to play hide-and-seek with us in her murky abode, a few of the turtles actually gave us their equivalent of the evil eye. That’s when we realized that the “good old days” of manually filling, heating and refilling tanks weren’t all that good.

“Back then” we had to take every stinkin’, (literally and figuratively), tank down every day, draining and cleaning it and giving the turtle a soapy bath. When you’ve got 27 patients like we do now, that’s a lot of water and a lot of towels and a lot of backbreaking work. And these turtles are WILD! Most of them haven’t been handled in months and they’re not used to having company in their tank.

Stressed sea turtles are not happy sea turtles; and they’re pink. Yep, their skin takes on a pink cast. Some of them get so stressed they actually begin to turn purple, not a good sign. That’s why cleaning each tank became a finely orchestrated group effort; we moved like lightening to get our patients floating and swimming as fast as humanly possible. Thankfully, after nearly a week of manual operation, our system is up and running on its own again. So the good news is that the turtles smell wonderful, and we’re all a few pounds lighter for our efforts.

Tuesday crew blitzes through the tank and turtle cleaning. 

Win a car!

For the fourth year, we are again one of the Wilmington area non-profit groups selected to take part in the Bruce Cavenaugh Suzuki Charity Raffle. A $20 ticket will give you the chance to win one of two 2008 Suzukis: a Grand Vitara or an SX4. Bruce even pays the sales tax, license, title and registration fees, along with any other normal new car fees. All you have to do is pick up your Suzuki on June 25th and drive it home.

The best thing about this event, other than winning a car, is that 100% of the money from the tickets you buy from us will go back to the hospital, and even if you don’t win the car, the purchase price is considered a charitable deduction.

Tickets sold by the Turtle Hospital are currently available, through June 6th, at the Topsail Chamber of Commerce on the causeway. Any hospital volunteer you know will gladly get you tickets – all the tickets you want! We will also be selling tickets at the Sneads Ferry Food Lion on May 24th (after 3:00 PM), and beginning at 10 AM on May 25th, May 31st and June 1st.

Our hospital ambassador, sea turtle “Lenny” really wanted to be there with us, but after checking the terms of his Fish and Wildlife contract he had to respectfully decline.

Summer Interns on the way

Our crop of summer interns, all eight of them, are scheduled to arrive on May 25th. After a day of orientation and general sea turtle training their first day of “real work” at the hospital will be Tuesday, May 27th. It’s always interesting to me watch the reactions when reality crashes into expectations. But honestly, nobody is really prepared for what we have to deal with here, no matter what their age.

I occasionally kid one of my Tuesday crew about the first day she showed up in a cute little outfit, hair and make-up perfectly in place. She says I looked at her like she was crazy and asked if she was very fond of the clothes she had on because they were never going to look like that again. She stuck it out and quickly overcame her initial apprehension: you either accept it or you leave. So when you come to visit us this summer keep in mind that we are a hospital first and foremost, and that’s why we generally look a little frazzled and smell like squid and wet reptile.

Beach walkers begin patrol

Our Topsail Turtle Project volunteers hit the beach last week looking for turtle tracks. Over the years, a few of our “first nests” have actually been laid on Mother’s Day. Let’s hope we have a lot of turtle moms making their way here right now, full of future hatchlings. Please report any tracks or turtles you may see on our beaches to Terry Meyer @ 910-470-2880.

Hospital closed until June

We’ll let you know our opening date when it’s finalized. Until then you can wave to us through the garage door windows or visit our turtles on-line at: www.seaturtlehospital.org.
 
Questions or Comments about this column?
Contact me at: flippers@embarqmail.com

David Ayers, "Pharmacist to the Sea Turtles" fills another order for us.

Topsail Island, NC - What do you do when a sea turtle has a headache, a cough or a sore flipper? First off, you check the hospital medicine cabinet for something to take care of the problem. But when the cupboard is bare, or the medicine you’re looking for is all gone, you go shopping. At the turtle hospital we turn to our friendly neighbors up the street at Surf City Pharmacy, “the best pharmacy on the island.”

Sometimes we tend take the people on the periphery of our hospital work for granted, just assuming that they’ll be there whenever we have need of their services. By now David Ayers, RPh., has become accustomed to getting calls from Jean and our vets for turtle-specific lotions and potions. He probably never thought he’d end up being “pharmacist to the sea turtles” when he was going through school in Chapel Hill. After serving in the Army and co-owning pharmacies in the Lenoir area for 20 years, the Ayers family scouted up and down the NC coast for the ideal place to open their own business.

In 1996, they found the perfect spot, next to Beach Care. They signed the papers - two days before hurricane Fran devastated the island! As their business grew, they moved to their current location in August of 1999 – right before hurricane Dennis. Philosophical about his bad luck with hurricanes, David says that the intended remodeling on the building was just done a little sooner than they had planned.

Because of Jean Beasley’s legendary turtle status here on Topsail Island, David wasn’t too surprised when she came in requesting turtle medications. So exactly what is he dispensing for our turtles?

We deal with a whole range of injuries and illnesses, from simple abrasions, to amputations, to traumatic head wounds. For most of the external injuries we use lots of Betadine, Silvadene, (SSD), and triple antibiotic ointment. To treat pain, infections and pneumonia we use injectables that require prescriptions.

After examining a patient, our turtle vet, Dr. Craig Harms calls his pharmacy with the information. Medications are ordered for a specific patient, for a specific problem and at specified dosages. All the bottles and tubes have the patient’s name on them. We take great care in storing the medication properly and in making sure we’re giving the right stuff to the right turtle. Often the dosages are verified by a second set of eyes just to be sure. (Funny tidbit: when we take our turtles to the NC State Vet School they are identified by name and “The Beasley Herd” on all their paperwork.)

Lately we’ve been going through a lot of eye drops and ointments, most recently for little Green “Leap.” These bitty guys take a real beating when they get caught up in nets. They’re admitted with swollen eyes that are obviously very painful. Thankfully, they’re surprisingly obliging when subjected to drops up to three times a day and they often heal quickly.

In addition to dispensing medication, David frequently “dispenses” directions to our hospital. Because of his location on the main road he’s become a defacto tourist info stop for visitors looking for our turtles.

Flipper hugs go out to David and the great folks at the Surf City Pharmacy for always tracking down what we need on a moment’s notice, and for pointing our visitors in the right direction.

Hospital closed until June

June is just around the corner. We’ve got a hospital full of healthy looking turtles just waiting to get their parole papers from Miss Jean and our vet. We’ll let you know who makes the cut in a few more weeks. Until then, visit our turtles on-line at: www.seaturtlehospital.org.

Beach patrols began May 1st
Topsail Turtle Project volunteers were all suited up and ready to roll. Or, more accurately they’re all T-shirted up and ready to stroll – the beaches that is – in search of nesting activity. If you see tracks or turtles on the beach contact Terry Meyer at 910-470-2880 immediately. 

Questions or Comments about this column?
Contact me at: flippers@embarqmail.com

Ginger Snap
 
ANN SMITH took this photograph in the early afternoon with an 8.1 mega pixel Sony 1080.
 
Submit your Last Shot photographs to publisher@topsailmagazine.com.  Put Last Shot in the subject line.  Photos must be at least 300 dpi.  JPEG format preferred.  Include full name and contact information.  We can't wait to see your submissions

Photos courtesy of Sara Webster

(Above)-Happy booklovers were entertained by popular authors in the island's annual event.
(From left) Linda Willetts, Betsy & Jim Froyd

by BJ Cothran

Topsail Island, NC - Quartermoon Books and Gifts in Topsail Beach pulled out all the stops at this year’s A Moveable Feast of Authors.  To the delight of all the reader’s in attendance, this year’s luncheon included the following diverse range of authors:  Ann Ipock (Life is Short, So Read This Fast), Margaret Sartor (Miss American Pie), Mark De Castrique (Final Undertaking), Susan Whitfield (Just North of Luck), Virginia Boyd (One Fell Swoop), and Suzanne Adair (The Blacksmith’s Daughter).  This is just a sampling of the books that were available at the signing since many of the authors were multi-published in various genres.  But never fear, signed copies of the participating author’s books are still available at Quartermoon.  So drop in and find a great read for that afternoon on the beach or a rainy day on the porch—or maybe a gift for a friend.

(Above) The hardworking gang at Quartermoon - (from left):  Sarah Jensen, Bridgette Bray, Claire Braxton, and owner Lori Fisher-put on another grand author's event. 

And mark your calendars for the next big book signing that you won’t want to miss!  Best-selling author Diane Chamberlain (Keeper of the Light) has written a book set on our very own Topsail Island called Before the Storm.  More details to come in our next issue!

Author's Note: Book Signing - Diane Chamberlain will be signing Before the Storm on Thursday, July 3 at 3:00pm. Call Quarter Moon for more details - (910) 328-4969.

By BJ Cothran
Photos from Earth Day Network

Tuesday, April 22 was the 39th Earth Day.  According to U. S. Earth Day Network—a nonprofit organization founded by the organizers of the original Earth Day in 1970—“more than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.”

What started nearly four decades ago as a celebration of environmental awareness has grown into a worldwide movement.  A United States Senator from Wisconsin and environmental activist, Gaylord Nelson, called for an “environmental teach-in” that became the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970.  Over 20 million people participated that first year and this year over 500 million people and national governments in 175 countries will reportedly join in the observance.
In many towns and cities across America and throughout the world, Earth Day has evolved into Earth Week.  The point of the overall celebration is to get people involved.  Many Earth Day activities help educate everyone in what we can do to make a change in how we live to better protect our environment.  Others encourage ways to elicit policy changes and legislative action. 

But most importantly, Earth Day is a good time to start.  Change starts at home, the saying goes, so pick one thing you personally can change to help the environment.  I know, I know, we all have too much to do as it is, but try something small.  If we all did even just the smallest thing, it would make a difference in the overall effect on the environment.

Need some ideas for next year?  Here are a few that we all could and should consider:

1.  Use cloth napkins instead of so many paper towels.

2.  Use durable coffee mugs instead of disposable cups.

3.  Commute smart—share a ride, ask someone to go with you to—work, church, a social event, to pick up the kids, etc.  Every time you share a ride it does make a difference.

4.  Replace incandescent light bulbs with Energy Star qualified Compact Fluorescent light bulbs (CFL).  You’ve heard it before but it’s worth repeating, if every household in the United States replaced one light bulb with one CFL, it would prevent enough pollution to equal removing 1 million cars from our roads.  That’s a big deal!

5.  Turn off the water when you brush your teeth.

6.  Turn off the water when you shave.

7.  Reduce/reuse/recycle.  It’s not just a slogan, it’s practical and could save you time and money.

8.  Go online and type in Earth Day in your browser.  Hundreds of excellent websites will pop up.  You’ll find thousands of suggestions on how you can make a difference, what you can do at home or with your family, ways to live green, and many places to volunteer, or just for more information about organizations where you can get involved. 

So this week celebrate Earth Day 2008 with a billion other people.  It’s a good thing for the environment and that’s ultimately good for all of us.

*Facts for this article came from several sources including Earth Day Network and Wikipedia.
BJ is a freelance writer and the author of Topsail Island, a photographic collection from the early days of the island.  She’s also the publisher of Topsail Magazine, a local glossy that features articles about people and places on the island.

On a special note:  According to Wikipedia, the date has significant meaning in the following:

1.  It was the birthday of actor Eddie Albert.  “Because of Eddie Albert’s early work with environmental causes and groups, when International Earth Day was created, it was decided it must be held on April 22 because that is his birthday.”

2.  April 21 was the birthday of John Muir who founded the Sierra Club.  “This is not lost on organizers who thought that April 22 was Muir’s birthday.”

3.  April 22 is the birthday of the Julius Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day, a national tree-planting holiday started in 1872.

Topsail Island, NC - (NAPSA)-Everyone agrees that roses are beautiful, but many also believe that roses are hard to grow. Today, nothing could be farther from the truth. New varieties give homeowners exactly what they want-brilliant roses that are a breeze to grow. Plus, roses are the only plant that will bloom repeatedly throughout the season: a sweet reward for very little effort.

With hybridizing advances, roses are more vigorous, fragrant and will bloom more frequently than ever before. If you have sunlight and water, you have what it takes to raise the perfect rose.
Sadly, the rose remains shrouded in misconception. Here are four myth busters that prove you don't need a green thumb to successfully grow roses.

Myth 1: Amateurs need not apply. Think that only expert gardeners can grow roses, and the rest of us should throw in the trowel? Wrong! The truth is that roses are very easy to grow. The key is to start with the best varieties from your local garden center. Look for roses that have won the All-America Rose Selections (AARS) seal of approval. Only the very best new roses are named AARS winners. These are sure to flower to your heart's content with minimal effort.

Myth 2: Roses are labor intensive. Roses have an undeserved reputation for being high maintenance and fussy. If you think growing roses means constantly spraying, grooming, feeding and pruning, think again. Experts agree that success can be as easy as choosing an award-winning rose plant and giving it regular water and six hours of sun a day.

Myth 3: All roses are disease prone. In reality, the number of disease-resistant roses has been steadily increasing, which means that it's now possible to find gorgeous, worry-free roses that will flourish with little effort.

Myth 4: Only old roses are proven performers. Many people are sentimental and tend to stick with roses they know from their childhood memories. In truth, new varieties are more vigorous, have more blooms and are easier to care for. Not many people covet the old Edsels these days, so in the same vein, now is a good time to introduce a modern rose plant to your garden.

What's the easiest way to conquer these myths? Look for the All-America Rose Selections' "seal of approval," which means you'll be getting the best roses for your garden. Only AARS winners have passed two years of testing in 23 gardens across the U.S., representing all climate zones. These roses have proven themselves in the AARS gardens, so they're sure to thrive in yours. For more tips and information, visit www.rose.org.

by Paul Reyes, RPh

Topsail Island, NC - (NAPSA)-Each day, millions of Americans take dietary supplements, including vitamins and minerals, in an effort to stay healthy and fill dietary gaps.

However, they are not risk-free. Some supplements can be dangerous if taken with certain medications or may have harmful side effects. Talking to your doctor or pharmacist before taking a supplement can help you find out if it is safe for you to use. Here are some guidelines to follow before taking a supplement:

¥ Drug interactions: Remember to tell your doctor about any dietary supplements you are taking when starting a prescription medication. Certain supplements, especially when taken in excess, have serious side effects and can have dangerous interactions when taken with prescription medications.

¥ Follow guidelines: There are different types and amounts of vitamins and supplements that are needed, depending on your age, gender and lifestyle. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about which one is right for you.

¥ Keep your guard up: Just because the label says "all natural" doesn't mean that the product is safe or effective. The supplement industry is generally un-regulated, so potency and ingredients can vary widely. Also, be wary of any curative claims made about a product without sound scientific research to back it up.

¥ No substitutions: Never substitute prescribed medications with vitamins or supplements. Chances are it will not have the same effect and may even be dangerous. If cost is an issue, discuss lower-priced medication options with your doctor, such as switching to a generic drug or using a mail-order pharmacy for medications taken on an ongoing basis.

¥ Don't overdo it: If you are taking a supplement, don't exceed the recommended amount. Some products can be harmful when you take a large dose or take them for a long time.

¥ Do not self-diagnose: The best thing you can do before taking vitamins is to ask your doctor or pharmacist what your needs are and what's safe and effective for you. Remember that supplements are not intended to treat, prevent or cure a disease.

For more information, visit www.medco.com.

Paul Reyes, RPh, is a pharmacist manager for Medco Health Solutions, Inc. and co-host of the national radio program "Ask the Pharmacist."

Before taking any dietary supplements, you may want to discuss them with your doctor or your pharmacist.

Paul Reyes
(c) 2008 Medco Health Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. 
 

A new program could help safeguard the health of Marines and their families.

Topsail Island, NC - (NAPSA)-The Marine Corps has recently created an on-line registry to help keep Marines, family members and civilian employees who resided or worked aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between 1957 and 1987 informed about past water quality issues at the base. We need the help of all friends of the Marine Corps to locate these individuals and have them sign up on the registry.  

Identifying the Problem

In the early 1980's, two solvents, trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), both unregulated at the time, were found in two water systems that served the Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace areas of the base.  When it was determined that specific groundwater wells were impacted, they were immediately shut down in early 1985. 

The drinking water at Camp Lejeune today is regularly tested and safe to drink. 

Taking Action

The Department of the Navy is funding two independent studies to determine if there is an association between exposure to the water and certain health effects.  The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is studying whether there is an association between exposure to the water and certain health conditions in children in the womb, the most susceptible population. The study is expected to be complete in 2009. In addition, the National Academy of Sciences is conducting a study to evaluate other potential risks associated with exposure.  Their study is expected to be complete in the fall of 2008.

The Marine Corps intends to notify all registrants of the results of these studies.

Implementing Solutions

The Secretary of the Navy and the Commandant of the Marine Corps are committed to contacting as many former residents and workers as possible who may have been exposed to these chemicals between 1957 and 1987. Unfortunately, Marine Corps and Department of Defense personnel databases do not go back to 1957 and are incomplete. The registry will enable the Marine Corps to collect current contact information for former residents and workers and will allow us perform a more thorough notification when the studies are complete.

Marine officials encourage former base residents and employees to register and visit the official website (www.Marines.mil/clsurvey), contact the toll-free Camp Lejeune Water Study Call Center (877) 261-9782, or email clwater@usmc.mil.  

A border of beautiful hydrangea blooms along a walkway can be a step in the right direction-and easier to create than many realize.

Topsail Island, NC - (NAPSA)-A garden filled with billowy hydrangea blossoms can be very popular. These classic blooms have been gracing the pages of glossy magazines and tantalizing gardeners for decades. The problem is they've been labeled as difficult to grow.

The truth is hydrangeas have been given a bad rap. They're actually quite simple to grow when you choose an easygoing variety. Luckily, breeders love these plants, too, and more and more gardener-friendly selections are being offered each year.

One of the most reliable is 'Limelight.'This hardy variety flourishes in full sun or part shade with very little effort. It's truly a standout with large (6- to 12-inch-long), robust, lime-green blooms that mature to white then turn pink and burgundy. Sometimes all four colors are present at one time. Perhaps better yet, the flowers form on the current season's growth. That means you don't have to worry about harsh weather zapping your flower buds and robbing you of a spectacular display, as is the case with many other varieties.

Because 'Limelight' is so easygoing and adaptable, soil conditions do not completely alter the flower color, which is also the case of other hydrangeas, although fertile soils will produce more-intense colors. If your soil is poor or lean, an annual dose of fertilizer in spring will boost the color.

With 'Limelight' you don't have to be intimidated by pruning either. Because it really doesn't require much attention, you don't have to pull out the shears very often. In early spring, plants benefit from a little freshening up by thinning out older stems before the leaves appear. The only other time you may want to make a cut is to remove deadheads or harvest fresh blooms for bouquets or dried flower arrangements. The flowers are excellent for table centerpieces. To keep good color in dried hydrangea blooms, simply cut them when they're slightly past their peak and let them dry in a vase of water.

In the garden, 'Limelight' shines in the mixed border with other shrubs and perennials. Blue Mist Shrub, Butterfly Bush, Joe-Pye weed and ornamental grasses all make great companions. At 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, 'Limelight' makes an excellent seasonal screen along the driveway or backyard property line. It is also well suited for foundation beds or massing.

If you have always dreamed of a picture-book hydrangea planting, don't wait another season or believe all the difficulty rumors. 'Limelight' is an easy-to-grow hydrangea and is readily available at most retail garden centers. To find one nearby, visit www.colorchoiceplants.com.