Occassional visitor to this forum, jumping in. I work 2 days a week at a small local nursery. We NEVER have sales, except for once, the owner brought in a truck load of plants to sell at bargain prices--aprox $2-4/ gal for plain hostas, a few dwarf burford hollies, Carolina jessamine, etc. If it's slow, like it's been lately, we just sigh. I doubt we'll ever sell the begonias and geraniums and impatiens still left over from spring, still occassionally trimmed and deadheaded by us (we do so religiously during spring, get lots of compliments about how nice our plants look compared to other places..), and so, come sometime in fall, out those poor unwanted plants will go--to the trssh. This week, I started moving up/dividing the 4 inch perennials into gallons. More plants for next year. I have visited a nursery that sold a few half dead gallon perennials for half price, but I just happened to be there, can't remember if they advertised that sale or not. The other day at work I was glancing through a fairly recent copy of a freebie industry mag, maybe Nursery Managment? The one w/ the lady who owns a HUGE independent nursery in CA, Alden something? on the cover. In that mag, there was an article about how to have a sale every week kind of thing. The author suggested highlighting ONE plant each week, like Nandina suggested, several posts above. That plant display was to be 1/3 back from the main entrance, w/ big signs, good labeling, and LOTS of the plants. Customers would see it immediately as they entered the store, but it wouldn't block their passage to other parts of the nursery. The author had several other neat suggestions, but I think a customer came in and I couldn't finish the article. Perhaps that technique would work in your situation. I wish the big plant vendors would back off their hurry-up quick marketing campaigns, some, and realize that not EVERY person in America NEEDS mums by mid August or Impatiens in early Feb. Southern growing seasons are SO long, that begonias are at their best WAY into late October here, and we can't even THINK about bringing in pansies til mid-October, at the earliest. To let poor begonias, impatiens, caladiums, geraniums suffer in their little pots because it isn't the "season" for them, because some idiot thinks mums in 100 degree August are OKAY, and pansies soon after, is SUCH a shame! Alas, 'tis the way of the world, which is why we get summer clothes in stores in winter and heavy coats in summer. SusiQ in NE TX

Hi Raeanne - Sorry, I am not doing laundry today. I am trying to recover from yesterday's garage sale. It was a major disappointment. We didn't get the crowds that we usually do and I blame the extreme heat. It was miserably hot and humid and I know that kept people away. We were actually giving stuff away at the end of the day, just so we didn't have to pack it back up. I only made $34.20! :~( I usually make around $75 when I just have junk and more when I have big ticket items like furniture. Oh well, there is always next year. Sorry to hear you still aren't feeling better. But I give you permission to drag out your "woe is me" plan of inaction as long as your DH will put up with it! LOL Tikanas - I could get into a whole lot of trouble if I had a week to myself. But it would be a costly week! LOL On the other hand, I can think of some great things that don't cost too much money. Breakfast with a friend, long walks first thing in the AM, hours browsing in my favorite stores, no cooking, watching chick flicks, hours talking on the phone, just to name a few. Have fun and give BJ a great big hug from all of us. Hope NHSuzanne is having a great time in Nantucket. MagicKitty - Glad to hear you had a nice vacation too. I bought a new desk chair today and it is SO comfortable. No wonder my b*tt fell asleep in that other thing! LOL I ordered a turntable for the TV and a chenille throw for the couch. I am still looking for an ottoman and an area rug but those will have to wait until I get back to work and start getting paychecks again! lol Once the desk and hutch get here, I can decide what I want to put on the walls. I will post a picture when it is all done. I like the feeling that this is my space. I guess some good came of DS moving out. Better go find something for dinner. Marci

I don't post very often, so cannot find a post right now to see "my page" to see what my official anniversary is. My profile page does not say, but the zip code showing corroborates my memory that I could have been registered since about 1991 or so. I, too remember Spike and the teacups. Those posts that earned a trip for someone to the teacups were often very fun! I remember several members that I miss off and on, but I like the "newbies" here, too. I come to read almost daily as I have since I found the cooking forum so may years ago. As with any family there is some tension sometimes and I even recall a period of time where there was so much trouble here I almost wrote this forum off, but thank goodness we all get over things and try again. Great recipes, great information, great people, great fun!

Hosta buyers guide is a group you join on FB. They have pre approved sellers who post there. Naylors one is probably largest? seller. They are real good enticing people into purchases with good quality pics and hostas. Starting last August Sept sellers will start reducing inventories so quite a few plants will come up at discount. Naylors usually does mouse series as discount too. Some action is momentous as sold in minutes I found. There are few names they do not sell online except FB. Is it worth joining FB? LOL Green mountain Hosta seems always has some hostas at reduced prices and quality is fantastic in my opinion.