Woo hoo! I hit the jackpot. Right after I posted (before Al had even responded) just for grins I did a search on ebay. I'd not even though of it before I posted. Wouldn't ya know, there was a seller right here in Illinois selling the stuff in big bags at cost. First I though, oh, I'll just order from him. But then I noticed that the ebay seller works at the manufacturer. And I see that his location is in the suburbs of Chicago not far from me. So I looked up the manufacturer on the net, and lucky me, they are about 25 miles away and will sell to the general public. Oddly, none of the nurseries near me carry it, and the sales rep said any garden center they sold to would be just as far to drive to as to their plant, so I may as well come in and pick it up there. He will have some nice employee load it into my car :) So now I am getting it direct from the manufacturer tomorrow. Get this price: $ 9.50 + tax = $ 10.24 for 4 CUBIC FEET (about 120 dry quarts, or 30 dry gallons). That's enough for 6 big batches of Al's mix. (At the garden centers, the big markup is due to the excessive shipping cost - this stuff is lightweight yet bulky and requires special care to ship) I'm so happy! My boyfriend thinks I'm insane, of course, and just rolls his eyes, but he is used to my obsessive-compulsive ways and is letting me be just as anal-retentive as I want to be about making Al's mixture exactly as written - and on the cheap! :) Speaking of cheap...if you think I haven't factored in the cost of gas, I have. I have a dental appointment tomorrow and I have to go right by the plant as I toodle along on the expressway, so we're talking about 7 miles total to jump off, pick the stuff up, and get back to the expressway. Yes, I drive a bit for my dentist because I love him and refuse to switch to someone closer to me since I moved away. The stuff is called Krum and is made by Silbrico. If you're not in Illinois and want the bulk bags, the ebayer (will come up on a search for perlite) sells it for practically cost - $ 10.95 + shipping. Also Silbrico will sell it for the $ 10.24 + UPS ship. Now of course, I'm curious if it is in any way different than Schundlers, or if perlite is perlite is perlite. (Both brands available in different grades, including the coarse) Al, thank you again for sharing your knowledge as usual and your very generous offer. I don't know how you have the time to keep up your gardens, answer emails and posts on GardenWeb AND offer to personally help people, but I'm glad you do and just want to say that you are wonderful! M Here is a link that might be useful: click me to see Krum, made by Silbrico

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.

Become familiar with the wonderful world of wholesale!! You will probably need a business license and tax ID number to order but this is only one of hundreds of US suppliers of nursery supplies you can access online. ps. start visiting trade shows - a great way to make contacts and to get some good deals!! Vendors are always ready to cut a deal to snag a new customer. Here is a link that might be useful: online nursery supply

here ya go http://www.lawyernursery.com/maggies/specsd.htm Here is a link that might be useful: Lawyer Nursery