OK, I went with Maryott's. It was definitely the best website for newbies AND I could order gift certificates in ANY amount that I wanted. Marilyn was such a sweetie on the phone too. Of the others, Oakes website was the next easiest to navigate but they limit gift certificates to $25, $50, $100 Marietta's website was difficult to get started on and easy to get lost in the wrong place. Their front page is poorly designed and newbies, who won't know what "2007 introductions" means, could be scared off by the first page of $100+ plants they stumble into. Gilberthwild.com must be on vacation this time of year and so is their website. I could not even see what DL they sell. Their page does say to check back after Dec 15 for next year's catalog. gonegardening, I want to see if they will get hooked by browsing through the eyecandy on a good website first. If they rave about how beautiful DL are after this first exposure then next year the AHS membership could be a perfect gift. thank you all for your suggestions. I hope this results in 3 new DL addicts :)

Annie, I know that people think Penzey's or Spice House are expensive..but you are right they aren't! I get the small jars as samplers..if it's a spice I know I'll use alot, I get the glass..then on my next order I buy a 4oz refill bag. I go through alot of Cumin, Smoked Paprika, Onion powder, Korjenti cinnamon, Galena Street Rib Rub. However I only buy a small jar of cayenne because most recipes call for pinches or a small teaspoons worth.. Compare the prices to grocery store or even Walmart.. Even the cost of shipping for me...I'm ahead of the game, and know the turn around at Penzey's is quick for storage. Although I have to agree with Changeling..in that how do any of us know how long a spice has been in storage..How long the whole spice was around before it became ground and packaged and put on a shelf.. I guess the key is to trust your supplier..~supplier..LOL..yep Penzey's definately supports a fix...tee hee I was making my Smokey BBQ rub yesterday and instead of chili powder (preblended) I use Ancho chili ground for the chili powder called for in the recipe and then toss in half the amount called for in Mexican Oregano. I bought that bag from Penzey's probably 4 months ago..and every time I open the zip top..I'm fragranced with it's wonderful pungent scent. Quality is often found in the sniffer. :o)

Graceful Gardens is having a 15% of two flats or more sale, but it doesn't seem to apply to gift certificates. Not a huge selection but very nicely grown small plants if my order from the spring is typical.

"I will tell you, I thought this too, but you may not be able to. At least, Pharmacists/pharmacies here (TN) cannot take them back." I work in a drug store. We do take prescription and non prescription medication back. We do NOT put it back on the shelf. It goes into our "dead drugs" bin (I should take a picture next time I'm at work), and it gets sent to an incinerator. We do NOT give you back your money on RX drugs. UNLESS it was a mistake we made in filling it. Again, if we dispense the wrong meds, any returned drugs will go into the dead drug bin. We cannot EVER put medication back on the shelf for resale once it has been paid for and left our counter. EVER. But we will take it and dispose of it. ALL drugstores should be able to do that, everywhere. I do know the chain I work for does, Canada Wide. We also give sharpies bins (those yellow containers for used needles) for free to our customers, and will give you a new one when you bring your filled one back. We send the used sharpies to a company who safely disposes of them.