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

Oh man, my sides are hurting from reading this thread... and hubby keeps rushing in here to see what I'm laughing at. "Are you watching babies on youtube again? Your GARDENING forum??? omg" I am cheap when it comes to what I spend on individual plants. I once wondered up and down the aisles of a garden centre for 30 mins trying to courageously part with $25 for a sunset echinacea. I just couldn't. I've always been like that, can't think "BIG" unless I've carefully planned a budget in advance, and I'm too disorganized to do that. I am guilty of hiding plants from hubby. You know when you were a kid and parents were forcing you to eat everything on the plate and you spread the cold vegetables around with the big bits of potato? SO SUBTLE. Well, I spread my groups of pots around in a similar way. "Oh, those? Those over there behind the shed? Heck, they've been there for months. Yeah, they'll keep. Yeah, they can be planted any time. No, I have lots of Astilbe. They spread fast. Feel like a nice cup of tea? $10? Nah they were marked down. You put the kettle on and I'll come in and make it." Whew. Interrogation over. Then one day I bought 5 tiny cedars that were on sale, $5 a pop, thinking I'd strategically plant them in a place where I wanted a small line/border/backdrop. It was in my mind to eventually border the property with them but way way in the back of mind. Well, my non-gardening husband took that idea and ran with it. He was extremely excited, breathless, and made me take him to the nursery to get 25 more. I was in anguish. "NOOOOOOOO.... That's going to cost us $125!!!!!" But I couldn't talk him out of it. Next weekend, back for 50 more. "Nooooooooooo... please, omg, this is too big a project for me... hundreds of dollars!!" 100 cedars later, lines of string, measuring tape, and a back injury... all that money gone on a hedge that will grow one foot per year. And despite his back injury (it was a BAD one) he loves the little things with all his heart and waters them daily. They look nice but I still break out in a cold sweat when I look at them, and I think of that bank card sliding slowly across the counter to the checkout girl. Sigh.

There are many bonsai trees bought/sold for prices in excess of one million dollars. In other countries, patrons purchase the trees as investments and entrust them to the care of their favorite (bonsai) master. It's very common for the trees winning their category at bonsai shows in Europe & Asia, especially Asia, to never have been touched (worked on) by the owner - only the master or perhaps one of his favored apprentices, depending on the value of the tree.

I'm looking forward to fresh lettuce, spinach, radishes, green onions. I will plant as soon as I get home which will be the first of April. Should be harvesting by mid May. Annie - One year I had all of the above planted the end of February and it was a beautiful crop. We garden with raised beds and they do warm sooner, that is if there isn't 2 feet of snow still on the ground. I will dig fresh horseradish from the garden as soon as I get home. We make cocktail and horserasdish sauce with it. I always look forward to that in the spring. Karen