Re: poss. stem borers and slugs was: Losing Salvia officinalis

Jean, I'm looking into the blight possibility. This beige stuff encircles the 
plant, it is slightly frass-like, but no dark coloration or goo that 
accompanies the frass common on squashes. Marge, you're absolutely right 
about it being a different culprit from the salvia's. They had none of this 
in their withering process. This is very granular, a fine beady substance 
that doesn't disintegrate quickly in your fingers. Strange and deadly. I saw 
a bit of it on a Friday at the base of the really large established anemone 
-- the plant had at that point lost one entire stalk. I thought slugs and did 
nothing. I was away for the weekend; on Mon. morning I couldn't believe there 
was nothing left but the whole mass lying brown in a crumpled pile. I was 
shocked. The "plant" couldn't be pulled from the soil, as it had totally 
dissolved at the base. There is one lone sproutling from the parent plant -- 
happy and green about 6" from the gravesite. This made me very grateful as 
that was my first Japanese A. bought years ago. Sentimental value certainly 
takes a toll in the garden survival system.                 The large 
Lobelias that are still living exhibit the same weird stuff around a few of 
the stalks. Most of them are in fairly close proximity to bearded iris beds 
which do have borers as this spring I let the Clorox treatment slide and have 
subsequently lost quite a few iris to those really nasty borers. I gave up 
the Lindane treatment as well -- the borers are ecstatic,                       
                        The smart thing to do is pack up what mess is left 
and send it to the lab. It takes 4-6 weeks to get any results but whatever I 
learn will (hopefully) help next year. I really appreciate both yours and 
Marge's input. And I even got the advanced slug prevention course -- thank 
you Marge!                                          Holly

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