As I mentioned above, the convection element failed to a shorted condition (that is an unusual failure mode - heating elements more commonly fail to a short). It got very hot very quickly. We were there in the kitchen, heard the load noise, saw sparks and the circuit breaker turned it off before I could react and move the few steps to the oven so it was seconds, not minutes. In that short time, it got so hot that it melted a hole in the metal cover over the convection element and fan and fused a deposition of something on to the part of the dutch oven that was facing that spot. Apparently, in dying, the bad element wiped out the power control board that is behind the oven cavity - either due to the heat or perhaps an electrical spike such as an inductive kick when current to the shorted element was turned off. That won't be confirmed until the tech comes back with parts and pulls the oven but it is based on the current symptoms - the remaining upper elements and the convection fan won't turn solidly on in test mode - they cycle on and off and that component is the likely culprit. The $1000 my guess based on the parts cost of the power board (rococogurl said that cost her $506 and the tech said it is around $600), the heating element (which I don't expect to cost much), tech labor (which will be upped considerably by the control board having gone as the oven needs to be pulled to replace it). I expect that the bill will at least total $800 (rococogurl listed charges that totaled over $700 for replacing just the power board). I don't know that a fuse or circuit breaker in the oven would have stopped it quickly enough to avoid the damage. The house oven breaker tripped pretty quickly and it didn't.

I have this same problem. I can't keep up with it because my neighbors are shooting off fireworks everyday the WHOLE summer. I have to vacuum daily. Any suggestions??

Mantis - I received Teddy Bears Picnic as a bonus, and that first year I didn't know if I would keep it. But it has been a stellar performer for the past three years and normally has bud counts in the 20s. This year I think 15-17 buds is the norm. It does change color during the day. It starts out that grayed lavender and changes into a dark purple by afternoon. I like the chameleon characteristic but some don't. Here's a photo at the end of yesterday with a real temp of 95 and a heat index of 102. Debra

Maryl, Beauty in Motion is a Bennett intro. I received it as a bonus plant with an order. I placed a 45 dollar order and received this 30 dollar plant as a bonus. Mr. Bennett and I conversed frequently and I had visited his garden many times when I lived in MD, so I think that my relationship helped with receiving this as a bonus plant. David