The big box stores in general are pretty bad in keeping things appropriate to the location. Every year, they get those god-awful little sad sticks in boxes brought in during February, when we have 2 1/2 months before it would be safe to plant them out here in Michigan. And invariably, they have cultivars like Thompson Seedless grapes that can't possibly survive here. I've also seen other gems like rabbiteye blueberries, fuzzy kiwi, etc. Mind you, as someone willing to try via "extraordinary techniques" to overwinter out of zone plants, I find it interesting, but its bad and deceptive for the novice who doesn't know the difference. As far as the enormous operations that supply plants for the big-box stores, I find it fascinating that they have such complex systems set up, yet can't manage to find enough people to unload, unpack, water, and properly care for these plants once they arrive at your local Wal-mart, Home Depot, Lowe's,, etc. I always wondered how they made ANY profit at all, given the high cost of inputs such as energy, when they are all paid essentially on commission under these pay-by-scanned-sales programs, and so much of the plant material dies in the retail outlet due to abuse, neglect, and just plain market saturation beyond all reasonable ability to sell it all. But, they must, or it wouldn't happen. I guess the good side -- some of these places, particularly Lowe's, are pretty good about marking things down dramatically to move them -- I get good bargains on things all the time. Best was a few years back at the end of season at my local Home Depot, when they got down to the "everything in small pots is $0.50, everything in medium pots is $1, and everything larger is $2" by Halloween -- I ended up getting several cartloads of nice nursery stock for next to nothing -- Buddleia, crabapples, maples, all kinds of things. Best was a grafted dwarf mounding blue spruce, original price $80, for $2.

There is a huge 'dead zone' in the Gulf of Mexico. Do you really believe that it is caused by homeowners using too much fertilizer? I don't. The dead zone is blamed on runoff from farmland. If farm runoff is enough to cause that dead zone, how can it not be the cause of Phosphorus in streams and water supplies? When farmers farm, they do a very carefully analysis of how much fertilizer they need to maximize their profits. If they don't, they go out of business. They could care less about runoff if their farm is at stake. I agree with cyrus on this one; it's political. Just as with air pollution and vehicle pollution controls, it is politically expedient to force the ordinary person to bear the brunt of regulation. Businesses get a pass. For years, trucks were exempted from the requirement to use catalytic converters. They were 10% of vehicles on the road but they were creating 50% of the air pollution. Only recently were they required to clean up their exhaust.

Did you get shoveled out and make it to Walgreen's before they sold out of seeds? What kind of seeds did you get? Are you going to start them indoors? LOL....I sound like a kid. I am so excited for warm weather and flowers. Only about ONLY about 8-10 weeks to go. Ho-Hum.......

Way back when I was first learning to cook, thereby having to buy groceries, I made most of my choices of canned or packaged goods by the label. If it was attractive, I reasoned the product would be good; if it was blah, then the product would probably be blah also. I think GV labels are Blah, so I have by passed them. I do shop WM for other things though. MeowMix and Fresh Step are cheaper. I like Carnation Instant Breakfast in the cans, not the packets. Kroger, my fave store, doesn't carry the cans, so I get it at WM. I buy jeans, socks, etc. at WM. This past week I bought a portable mixer there. My other choice for that was KMart and they didn't have any. Anyway, I find the clerks at WMart very helpful, and they usually not only tell you where a certain item is if you ask, but will take you there. I was looking for two items, a weekly pill box and an eye cup. Couldn't find either so a clerk looked and didn't find them, so he went to the Pharmacist and told him what we were looking for and the Pharmacist said they didn't carry them, but to go to either CVS or Riteaid and they should have them. I thought that was really helpful, so I called and Riteaid has the pill box and CVS has the eye cup. I will be in town tomorrow and get them. So there are good points in all stores, as well as bad. For instance, I do not buy meat or produce at WMart. I have gotten good cakes and salads from the Deli though. Sue