Tomatoes gotten from the grocery store are typically a hybrid variety, meaning that they won't grow true from seed. They may produce a tasty variety, but won't grow the same variety that you got the seeds from. The seeds in those tomatoes have reverted back to the traits from one of the parent plants used to product the tomato. Any plant sold at a garden center will produce a good tasting tomato. Again most of the ones sold at Wal-Mart or HD will probably be hybrids so you won't want to save the seeds. IMHO some of the best tasting tomatoes are Heirloom varieties. Common ones that you may be able to find include Brandywine, Green Zebra, & Cherokee Purple. I grow about 40 different varieties of toms. And every year a different variety shines. The flavor of a tomato depends on the weather and each year can be different. A couple years ago one of my favorites was Green Zebra, but last year Kelloggs breakfast was the winner, and while the GZ's were good last year they were not great. You don't list where you live...so at this point in the season I would recommend that you buy plants from the garden center. In many areas of the country it is too late to start toms from seed. No matter what variety you get they will taste better than anything from the grocery store, since you can let them ripen to the peak of perfection right on the plant. Next year you may want to check out Seed Savers Exhcange for a great place to order some Heirloom seeds.

Well, a few things. First, I think many grandifloras will give you that lush, ball shape, with branches virtually to the ground (including the cold hardier ones like Victoria or Edith Bogue). I will post a few pics tomorrow of some that have been in the ground for 4-5 years. I got them small enough so that they could fit into the car but you would be amazed at how fast they grew! Mostly purchased at either HD, L's, or local garden center, and not for a lot of $. Speaking of which many stores have great deals on trees at this time of the year, however, if you do get one now, I would hold off on planting outside until Spring. Funny you should have a pic with deer because I live with a virtual deer colony here. No, the deer WILL NOT eat the leaves but they LOVE to rut the trunks of mags (Deciduous or evergreen) because of the smooth bark. However, those you describe as ball-shaped tend not to get selected by the bucks. They select those with more easily accessible trunks! I have been temped to prune those branches that cascade down to the ground, but do not for this reason. Now, the one negative trait that they all have is that many leaves are shed normally in the Spring--around the time new growth commences. This is normal. So peak leaf litter here is May into June, not so many in July and August, and none in the Autumn when I we get buried with deciduous leaves. None also in the Winter. No winter leaf burn occurs on the Victorias or Edith Bogues (which actually first gained national prominence as a distinct strain once it got to NJ from a tree growing in Florida and yet endured a severely cold Winter killing other S. mags). I do get some minor burn on a nameless cultivar that I got and believe to be 'Green Giant' but that one grows fastest of all so the point is moot (cultivar known for rapid growth, almost no brown on the underside, and limited tolerance to extreme cold). P.S., The attached pic was from last year, and is either an Edith Bogue or Majestic Beauty (didn't think to label the cultivar). Njoasis Here is a link that might be useful:

re a grinder: I've recently made extensive use of a Makita 4" grinder (N9514, I think), with MK blades. The most interesting thing I can contribute is that my DH evidently mounted the blade backwards, but it works *so* much more smoothly and handleably than when it's mounted what is supposedly the correct way. I got spark-free, chip-free gliding movement from it, but when it was turned around I got chips, sparks, bounces, etc... Just thought I'd throw that in. I'm also needing a sander for tile so I can take down the shine on the top edges of the bullnose--I need supposedly a 150, which is what my tile guy used on the edges of the field tile that would show to make a wonderfully touchable but still not shiny finish.

I bought a Janome My Lock 204D a year ago. It was a little over $400. It has worked like a gem, not one issue with it. I had to take it in for "help" on the threading. But once I got that down it has been virtually hassle free, except cleaning/oiling/ etc. For an entry level serger I couldn't be happier. I am starting to think I want something fancier w/ more bells and whistles, but it's not because the one I haven doesn't work well. And this one also does beautiful rolled serger hems. I use that a lot for finishing ruffle edges. My girlfriend wanted a serger but didn't want to spend a lot because she wasn't sure how much she'd use it. And she put a note in the local quilt shop newsletter as "wanted" and had 3 calls w/in a week of people w/ used ones to sell. A lot of people buy them and can't get them threaded, or the tension right, so they give up and let them collect dust. I think that is the biggest thing to look for. How easy is it to thread (some of the spendier ones are self threading). What kind of support will you get on machine use (an advatage to buying it from a local seller rather than over the internet. They usually will help you out for free, offer classes, do maintance for a year etc....) And how well will it keep it's tension. I like having the option of a rolled hem because I use it a lot, but if you don't think you'd use it probably not a "must" have. HAppy shopping! Tanya