Hi emagineer,

Did you go to one in Colorado Springs? I went to the Habitat store in Broomfield last Saturday with a friend. They didnÂt have a lot of building stuff, but we really went there looking for more typical thrift shop type stuff anyway. I did notice the old toilets they had and made a mental note that if I need a toilet for any reason, IÂll go back there to get one. Maybe theyÂll get better with time, but I havenÂt figured out yet how flushing a "water saving" toilet 2 or 3 times to make it work adds up to saving water. I have old ones that work really well in my house now, and I recently told someone that if I ever sell this house IÂm going to take the toilets with me! What I like about getting stuff at the Habitat stores is that the profits go back into Habitat For Humanity, so besides getting something cheap, you can feel like youÂre doing something good! Unfortunately my yard is so small here that I donÂt have room for any major construction projects.

And, I belonged to the Arbor Day Foundation many years ago when my yard was a couple acres, and they will send good plantsÂbut they will be small, and bare root. As long as you donÂt let the roots dry out all the way, and get them planted fairly quickly, they should do well. Now that I have such a small yard I donÂt have room for the stuff they sell, but I think IÂm going to join the American Horticulture Society again. They haveÂat least they used to haveÂa once a year seed program where you could get all kinds of exotic tree/bush/plant seeds from all over the world for a couple dollars. ItÂs probably more than a couple dollars now, but it was sure fun to look through the list each year and pick out things you could never, ever find anywhere else.

Good luck with all your projects,
Skybird

Skybird,

It was great fun volunteering there, everyone friendly and working hard. I had promised myself a few years back after far too many volunteer projects not to again. But, the time went fast and the place is well managed. And the customers are having a great time, fun to watch people digging through.

With spring and the big lot stores restocking, contractors back to work full force, they are receiving tons of stuff. There are 3 in Denver, one is a major size warehouse. Like any used item place, it takes going back more than once. If I wasn't into a project, wouldn't just be going to check things out either.

I knew the ARbor plants were small and bare root. They won't be sent until late April and decided to take a chance with some spots in my yard. Considered it a support to the world of gardening.

Agree with the "toilet" experience. Did you know tyat if you put in a low flow and go for the rebate that they ask for a pic of your breaking up the old one? I don't really get this as anyone could break any toilet and send it in. Nor do I get having to flush more than once and call it water saving.

And, again speaking of toilets...this store has a hundred plus, brand new, in the box toilets/sinks/tubs in pink/blue/beige/green from a plumbing store that went out of business. A great deal for someone looking to match, but wonder how they will ever sell that many in todays world.

Didn't know about the American Horticulture Society...will wander over to their site.

Hi emagin,

I think IÂm gonna set up a web site and start selling pictures of people breaking up toilets! Sounds like a GREAT way to make a little extra money. Heck! I could just email the pictures and wouldnÂt have to even pay for the pictures or the snail mail! LOL

AHS is a little more expensive than Arbor Day, but you get a magazine with it. Twenty years ago (when I was a memberÂand could afford to do it!), I went on a Mediterranean Cruise sponsored by AHS, and we got to tour a whole bunch of private gardens that "regular" tourists could never get into. European gardens are amazing! Well, these were the kind of gardens at big, old estates, and at villaÂs and stuff! I love formal gardens with all the little hedges pruned into large patterns, and some of the (ancient) water features they had were spectacular, and the statuary they had! Wish I could find some classy looking statuary over here, but our "baby country" doesnÂt seem to have the kind of stuff they have over there.

HereÂs a link to AHS. It looks like they DO still have their seed exchangeÂbut you have to be a member!

Hang onto your good toilet,
Skybird

Here is a link that might be useful: American Horticultural Society

Thanks for the link, I did head over there when you mentioned it. The trip sounds wonderful. It has always intrigued me how many things are so much alike as to plants, etc....just far more established than our "new" state.