Iron is only a micronutrient and the average garden soil contains about 3 pounds of the stuff per cubic foot. The problem is that plants only take up iron compounds which are water soluble and only in the less stable ferrous, rather than ferric, form. All sorts of soil conditions can convert ferrous iron into less soluble and therefore less plant-available iron compounds. Iron chelates are compounds of ferrous iron which are water soluble and resist conversion to less soluble compounds. Any compound which is water soluble cannot persist in the soil - water will wash it out. If the soil conditions which lead to iron deficiency persist throuhout the year, probably the longest lasting approach is to try lowering the soil pH with sulfur. If you choose to use an iron chelate, you might have to apply it every two weeks or so, just as you would a water-soluble source of nitrogen such as MiracleGro.

You can cut it back to the ground every year, if it doesn't look great....and often these plants seem to get ratty looking over the winter. You can also cut individual leaves off at any time of the year should they get tattered. Aspidistra seems to have a personality all its own. It can stay lush all year round...or it can show a temperamental side. This might be the year when we lose or have some real damage to plants that have not struggled with cold temperatures before. It was so cold, for soooo long. Late spring would be a good time to inspect plants at ground level for splitting bark and other signs of cold damage, especially if you see signs of yellowing or decline on normally healthy plants.

I buy sheets with a very high thread count, but still iron pillowcases, and sometimes that band at the top of the flat sheet. For the guest bed, I usually iron the entire top sheet, but not the fitted. I hadn't thought of sending them to the cleaners, I may look into that.

OK, OK. A couple of you have mentioned creases. Not wanting them. Yet, when a person purchases a new long-sleeved, french-cuff shirt, there are creases along the sleeves. Been there for a long time. I wear my tuxedo 6 - 8 times each year. Usually with my jacket on; however, there have been times while 'dancing', I remove the jacket. Then folks can see the entire shirt. Yeah it is a bit wrinkled around the arm pits and back where I was sitting, but the sleeves and the front are generally in ship-shape condition. Why no crease on the sleeves? There are creases on the pants!