What I do when opportunity presents itself is buy plants that have another plant come up in the same pot. That's if it's something that I'd like, even if the original occupant of the pot isn't all that interesting. That's how I got my Gonatopus bovinii. I'd been after one for some time but have never seen them for sale. So when I saw it in another plant's pot I picked that one. At the cash register they were happily going to get rid of the "weed" for me but I insisted it stayed. So I've still got both plants and the Gonatopus has flowered a few times. Sometimes I've got ferns that way, they'll spread their spores readily. I'll also pick plants that can be divided. Got a ginger that divided into 5 plants, made the price seem okay, when divided by 5, lol.

Oh my Lord Nick! Sorry I've been MIA for soooo long!! "A day at the Groomer's"= I've been a groomer of dogs and cats for 22 years. Doing some show grooming of said dogs and cats as well. There are some good days and some bad days. Most of my bad days involve cats! Let me say it doesn't matter how much money that you spend on a show cat, if they feel like being a freak that particular day...there is going to be some hell to pay and the groomer is the one that pays. There are few groomers that even want to touch a cat. I just happen to one of the fools.I'm always amazed to get phone calls from cat owners that want to know why it's so hard to find someone to groom Fluffy; yet they can't run a comb or brush through their own cat without looking like they had a fight with a Cuisinart. The sweetest cat can turn into a chainsaw with fur! gb

Although I have specialized in Brazilian cacti for many years, I have always greatly admired "bonsai" Euphorbias. Here are three juvenile plants .......... E. balsamifera ssp. adenensis E. californica E. hedyotoides Here is a slightly older E. balsamifera ssp.balsamifera , that was grown hydroponically - drain to waste - in pure pumice: This post was edited by jpaz on Mon, Sep 8, 14 at 0:02

I do not normally order hostas by mail. But here in Canada;s Ottawa Valley, I am fortunate to have two excellent hosta suppliers nearby in Budd Gardens http://buddgardens.com/plants.html and the Rideau Woodlot Ramble http://www.rideauwoodlandramble.com/ Both have posted their catalogues for the upcoming season. I will evaluate my needs in late May after the hostas and other shade plants have emerged. At that point I will decide what I would like to add based on foliage colour and mature size. Then I will visit the two suppliers and talk to the owners - both owners are experienced and knowledgeable hosta growers - before buying potted plants. I get to see what I am buying. Doug