This won't be any help if you want the seed for planting this spring but I've collected very large amounts of marigold seeds from public plantings such as found at hospitals, medical clinics, etc. I'd go in & briefly explain that I was collecting the seeds & deadheading the spent blossoms so they'd continue to bloom. I've never been refused & many seemed happy that someone was keeping the small gardens looking neat. Most public places like that don't have much variety in annuals so marigolds are common but sometimes cosmos, snapdragons, & a few others can be gleaned this way.

Well, I'm a computer programmer by day, so I have no connection with Costco other than buying computer equipment there when it's on sale. Don't even own any of their stock. On the other hand, they should start charging my wife rent, as she seems to spend more time there than at home some days (oh, right, I've seen the bills -- they *are* charging her rent!) Anyway, I have no qualms about buying nursery products from Costco, or from Home Depot or Lowes. Their prices are good, and if you get the plants right after they come in, before they've had a chance to kill them, the quality is good, too. I understand that smaller businesses are getting squeezed by the big box stores. There are few nurserys who can go directly to a Dutch grower and order a couple hundred tons of bulbs, and like everything else they carry, the big stores get deeper discounts because they order in huge quantities. This isn't limited to plant material -- when we buy nails and paint at Home Depot, we're slowly killing off the independent local hardware stores. Smaller local stores complain about Wal Mart's predatory pricing, and do go out of business when one opens up nearby. I do buy products from smaller local stores, including hardware and nursery products, when my needs justify it. Sometimes I need specialty items; sometimes I need advice and customer service; sometimes I buy other stuff at the same time to save another trip; sometimes I go to the closest store and pay more to save time. The point here is that smaller stores and nurserys can compete with the big box stores, but price is one of the areas where they probably shouldn't even bother.

Ednie is a very good source for bulbs. We've always called in our orders; therefore, we know immediately if a product isn't going to be available. High quality bulbs, and super customer service. Love their Acidenthera, Allium, Erumurus, Crocosmia, Callas, Narcissi, Ranunculus, Tulips, and, of course, they have wonderful lily bulbs. However, a source for gladioli bulbs closer to Indiana (think shipping costs) is a farm located in southwestern Michigan that specializes in gladioli. Their gladiolus are breathtakingly beautiful. You can phone them, and they will send you a catalog. Great customer service. They're there to answer any questions you may have including pest control. The name of the company is Nagel Bulb Company located in Schoolcraft, Michigan. I don't think they have a website. Although, they may now have one. We always call them. They are actually fellow vendors at two of our farmers markets. You can go to yellowpages.com for their telephone number. I would do that for you; however, Firefox likes to crash whenever I visit GardenWeb.

Wow, thanks for all the great advice and suggestions. I did not know that about tulips (said in my best Ron White voice). I have enough trouble with my own accelerated depreciation, let alone dealing with that of bulbs that I plant, and this property is Grand Central Station for deer, so I think IÂll stay away from tulips and focus on other spring bulbs. DD, I did not find King Alfred on the BreckÂs website, but I learned from some of the other excellent sites mentioned that it only called that in the US and that elsewhere in the world it is called Dutch Master. Given the size, IÂll bet that BreckÂs ÂColossal Daffodil is probably their version of Dutch Master. Peering around my monitor, I can see a half dozen blooming right now out in the garden. Even in the rain they hold their headÂs up proudly, must be royalty. Too many choices! With respect to daffodils I found a couple of collations that offer nice variety and include some of the ones yaÂll recommended. I think IÂll start with those and then see what to add, either later this year or next year, after they bloom. I have a coupon for BreckÂs that expires soon and also want to order some perennials from them, so I think IÂll start there and maybe order from some of the other websites, once their 2006 catalogs are out. I also like the idea of layering. The reason I stayed away from spring bulbs for so long was because I considered them one-hit wonders  a week or so of color and then wilting greens. BUT, after watching the crocus and tulips and daffodils and hyacinths bloom one into the other, IÂve gotten just a bit wiser. And, with layering it is possible to extend the color in the same spot, instead of scattered all over the garden (not that thatÂs bad, either). Since I have so many new stretches of bare ground to fill, what with all the construction, itÂs the perfect opportunity to plant layers, since there will be nothing blocking me. Again, thanks everyone for all the great ideas. I am definitely psyched to plant bulbs. narcnh