Giant Fluff Balls

These giant balls of fluff in the front LipsYard are Annabelle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborscens.)

The blossoms start as a bright lime green, and finish as spectacular white globes of tiny little flowerettes.

They work wonders covering up the less than attractive (ugly) newspaper box.

Covering up is also what the Environmental Protection Agency is doing about the chemical chlorinated Tris. One of the three most commonly used flame retardants, it was used in kids pajamas for years until it was discovered to be harmful by several international and national health and regulatory agencies, including the National Cancer Institute, the World Health Organization, and the Cosumer Product Safety Commission. One program within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified the chemical as a cancer hazard and notes that it caused reproductive problems, develpmental defects, anemia, liver failur and eye and skin irritiation in laboratory animals.

Now it's being used in foam in furniture and upholstery without any warning whatsoever.

Here's where the coverup (or maybe a sellout to Bush friendly big business,) comes in. Another EPA program, which was established to warn the public about dangerous chemicals, makes no mention of these chlorinated Tris concerns, and it's website lists 16 studies that each conclude the chemical does not harm people.

SHOCK! All the studies were funded by the chemical makers.

WORSE! Manufacturers don't have to reveal if they're using chlorinated Tris because new EPA regulations allow them to keep it a secret to protect their products from competitors. Consumers health (and the factory workers using this stuff) be damned, as long as the business thrives. Read the full Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report HERE.