Door County in Wisconsin is one place in Wisconsin that is sucessful for cherries and apples, because of its unique weather. The winters in Door county are harsh, about zone 4, but unique. Door County, the 'Thumb' of Wisconsin, is surrounded by the cold water of Lake Michigan. That part of the lake often freezes over as it did this year. In spring, it becomes an icebox that holds back the cherries and apples keeping them from coming out of dormancy until late in the season. For most years, the trees are held back late enough for blossoms to escape a late frost. As a result, the fruit crop in Door County is delayed. Cherries ripen in August whereas in southern Illinois, cherries ripen in late June to early July. Cherries are not sucessful in the remainder of the state. For similar reasons, most of Michigan's cherry orchards are located on the east side of Lake Michigan.

Be sure to sign up for your Big Lots card you present it each time you buy something the computer keeps track and you'll get a 20% off everything in the store coupon later on . I hope to look at those comfy robes

My DD worked at Big Lots several years ago and she said to NEVER buy anything you need to plug in there. It's usually 2nds or returned items there-seldom overstock. I've noticed they've really changed their format and seem to bring things in especially for their store (seasonal decor and now some furnishings). Better to go to another 1st round retailer instead of a deep discount retailer.

A bit off topic, but it's about the evolution of Big Lots. 40+ years ago there was a small chain of stores in the Los Angeles area called Pic n Save. They carried cheap trinkets and overstock things, as a kid I LOVED that store because I could shop for everyone on a kids budget. They carried a lot of 2nds and out of season items. Later they started carrying seasonal things they were like a precurser to dollar stores. They eventually changed the name to Big Lots but it was mainly due to their getting "Lots" of unclaimed or 2nds merchandise. You really had to pick thru to find gems, but you could get really good deals. I found it was a great place to outfit the kids when they moved in to their first places-dishes, linens, even food was cheap. Then they started getting more seasonal decor in and started opening more stores as a 3rd tier retailer-places like Marshalls and Home Goods being 2nd tier. Before long they started bringing in really cheaply made furniture and it's now evolved into what it is today-a CRAPPY 2nd tier retailer. Their prices are not cheap-just like at Tuesday Morning...they will have one or two loss leaders and the rest of the stuff is quite spendy for what it is. My eldest DD worked at Big Lots while she was in college-so I'd end up going there pretty frequently to visit her, that was just before they started getting furniture in. Now with their TV ads, they have evolved way beyond their original beginnings!