Gary, it's more than *either* bozo *or* snobbish. Big middle of the continuum where most of us hang out. Knowing that live orchids are thrown out to die is tough. However, my 40 indoor plants are crowded, and just one of those large big box Phals would push a couple off the shelf. Denninmi, for me, the most important thing is to enjoy our orchids, whatever their source or price. I'm glad the big box stores have Phals and other orchids at low prices. I might never have gotten into orchids had it not been for one of those stores. Before then, I thought orchids demanded hothouse conditions and didn't know commercial growers existed. The stores introduce loads of uninformed folks to orchids. Your question about quality... Masses of big box orchids, identified or not, come from Thailand. Others may know if quality is similar to those from US commercial growers, but *I* feel better buying from a grower whom I can contact to see if they have an orchid not listed in their catalog, get detailed info about a particular plant, could visit if in the area, whatever. Your question about what the availability of these plants at low prices to the general public means to more professional orchid growers... I wonder about that, too, if I'm understanding your question. Have big box sales had a detrimental effect on US professional, commercial growers? My understanding is countless plants come from factory farms in Thailand, where the weather's ideal; utility, labor, transportation, & other costs are low; and the mammoth greenhouse compounds are largely or completely automated. It seems impossible for US growers to compete, but perhaps the two markets largely draw different customers. Or maybe hobbyists continue to buy from US growers while shopping at big box stores for inexpensive, blooming orchids that aren't available from US growers at those prices anyway. There are bound to be other variables. And... just know - for $15-$25 plus shipping, you can get a blooming size Phal from a US commercial grower, or one of the multitude of other orchids that grow in Phal conditions. These plants aren't likely forced to bloom, as the big box orchids are. If you order during the orchid's natural blooming season, you'll receive a spiking plant. Otherwise, it will flower during its next season, as most of yours probably do now. Enjoy, WhiteCat8

Hi Daria, what varieties of garlic do you sually plant? I planted a small amount of "Spanish Roja" last fall for the first time, it didnt get as large as i thought it might but it did "ok." this fall i will plant it in an area that gets more sun, and i will amend the soil more with compost/organic material. i was also confused as to watering,fertilizing etc etc etc also for this area, i found a lot of good info about that stuff on the G & H Garlic site, they are located in Littleton, NH. I will also be planting other varieties besides the "Spanis Roja" next fall, fresh garlic is starting to show up at local farmers markets, so i'll probably use some of that for seed this fall also.

Thank you all for your suggestions. We will be compiling a list and then running the selections and prices through our Hort Committee. I always over-submit in case some plants are not available at the time of ordering. I will be happy to post our final list when we get through with it. Like Bob said, this is actually a large greenhouse which will be mainly devoted to Broms. If you look on our website www.buffalogardens.com, you will see a photo of the facility- we are working on one of the secondary domes, specifically the one to the left of the main palm dome. *big dome* :) I should take some digitals today and see if I can get them up on the internet- they are working on putting the glass in right now, and it's a mess, but at least you can see the size. All of your help and suggestions are appreciated more than you know. I would really like this to not be such an "epcot" display of a sea of red guzmanias, but a bromeliad "living museum"; a sanctuary where both brom afficionados and the "uninitiated" can go to see some great plants. Don't get me wrong, I like drifts of color, but I also want specimen plants with botanical value. We've got the facilities, and now is the time to add the magic!

I live in an area where bobcats are fairly common. Perhaps they're shy by nature, but here they aren't very shy. I've seen them inside my fenced yard numerous times. None has ever tried to attack me. Most times the cat just meanders away when it sees me. Other times, he's ignored me while he finished his meal. I accidently walked right up on one a couple of weeks ago, finally saw it when I was very close, apologized profusely and backed away. The cat never moved. Wild doesn't mean nasty. Just wild. I'm not afraid of bobcats (I was at first, believe me), but I have great respect for them. They're not going to behave nicely if you bother them. Most humans don't either. I think it's like most things that are unfamiliar. They scare us. If you spend some time learning about them, they become much less frightening. As for where they belong, I'd have to say that's just not a choice as far as I'm concerned. Wild animals don't understand human boundaries. They laugh at my fence. I know very well that I'm the outsider where I live. The bobcats, snakes, possums, birds, bears and raccoons were here long before I was. And I sincerely hope, despite our interference, they stay. Katkin, please don't be offended by my comments or others here. Some people love wildlife. Others prefer their wildlife at a distance. Both are quite respectable opinions. Maureen