I'll chime in about the most expensive plant I saw. It's a good story, well, for me it is. Anyways, I have been into plants now for about 14 years, and have always loved tree-like succulents, such as jades and portulacarias. I don't have a big collection at all, but I cherish the ones I have. Ever since seeing a picture of a variegated jade, I knew I HAD to have one. Problem is, I saw this picture in 1999, and have never seen one of these jades in person, let alone for sale. Well, last summer, while browsing around in a large greenhouse that I've been to dozens of times, I decided to go past the tropicals and succulents, and browse around in the annual flower section, which I have no interest in. Upon walking WAY to the back of this large annual section, there in the bowels of the greenhouse sits a variegated jade. I was super exited, however, this jade was 7 feet tall, with a 12" diameter trunk, and had a price tag of $799.99. Obviously, this is too expensive, and also too big for my tastes. But, I asked if I could take a leaf to root my own plant, and the guy said "sure, but you would be better off with a stem cutting", and broke a small chunk off for me. Well, I rooted the cutting successfully, not that jades are a challenge, and this spring repotted it now that it has a vigorous root system. So, after all that babbling, I can sum it up like this: Not only did I find the most expensive plant I've ever seen, I got my variegated jade, and it only took 12 years! Joe

Here's a musa sapientum 'Sweet Cream' here in Nashville, TN. At Blooms Nursery. Variegation hasn't been great yet, but hopefully will improve as the plant matures. Slow growing too. And HERE is the much-awaited (lol) photo I've promised of the mythical 'Indonesian Ivory' banana, a banana from Thailand, I believe. The owner is disappointed with this one, and you can see why. Variegation is nothing short of, well, unspectacular to say the least. Once again, the plant is still young though, and variegation is supposed to improve with age. Let's hope so!

Yes, it's the disconnect between the exterior and interior that is so jarring. The views are to die for! It's interesting to know more of the house's story. Sadly, the remodel looks like an absurdly expensive folly of some super-rich folks. Especially that they, apparently, never moved in. With those $$$ they could try to create an interior more fitting such a beautiful Beaux Arts mansion. Although the modernist interior is nice in its own way, the disconnect seems to signal the owners' lack of desire to honor the milieu. They just pushed on with whatever suited their fancy. If there were no protective restrictions on the exterior, the shell would probably be destroyed or altered beyond recognition, too.

Oh. Well, in that case Bumblebeez, you'll have to sell them all and hope that DC meant white truffles and Beluga. :) Of course, the Birkin was styled after a bag that a lady was carrying on a plane. It's an expensive knock off. :) My mother had one of the original kind, or a cheaper knock off of that.... :) Special requirement foods, like kosher or organic or both, which are for philosophy rather than need, are expensive, but they're another story. It's an overall choice to spend a larger portion of one's wherewithal to get a specific kind of groceries that fit one's way of life. While my university made me learn to hate broccoli (I've gotten over it and can eat it, but won't buy it for myself) because there was a bumper crop and we had horse broccoli 3-4 times per week because it was cheap, a lot of universities now are following student insistence on sustainable agriculture and grown within 100 miles. It's expensive, though they save some costs by going right to the farmer, but they do manage to stick to budgets while feeding the young people according to their philosophy. Some have few clothes and many second hand in order to pay for their food philosophies. That's all about way of life, rather than indulgence of the buy oneself a treat variety.