Hi ifraser. I haven't kept track of prices (denial is our friend), but it's a bummer if they've doubled since 2003. For the plants you mention, there's a range of prices among reliable US commercial growers. "A fairly standard Phalaenopsis mericlone = US$15 approx" For me, it would be terrific to get a kinda regular, unawarded BS Phal mericlone for $15. $25-$40 is more usual. "A cattleya hybrid = US$20." Don't grow. "A more unusual specie (ie Dend.lawesii) = US40." For Den. lawesii - 1. US $12, BS? Carter & Holmes. http://www.carterandholmes.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=8606%2F20&Category_Code=1220-Dendrobiums 2. US $18, BS? SLO; haven't ordered from them. http://sloorchids.com/oscommerce/catalog/dendrobium-lawesii-p-189.html 3. US $12, BS? Clown Alley; haven't ordered from them. http://www.clownalleyorchids.com/Dendrobium.htm 4. US $20, BS, J&L Orchids. Extra good grower, from my experience. http://www.jlorchids.com/catalog/all_others1.html 5. US $40, BS, Parkside Orchids. Extra good grower, in my experience. http://www.parksideorchids.com/dendrobiums.htm "Vanda/Paph hybrid =U$$ 60*" Don't grow Vandas. Paph hybrids - 1. US $15 - $22.50, BS? Botanica Ltd.; haven't ordered from them. http://www.botanicaltd.com/hybrid.HTM 2. US $25 - $85, almost all BS. $85 is for their Paph Fumi's Delight 'Brennan's Orchids' AM/AOS. Most are closer to $30. Brennan's; haven't ordered from them. http://store.brennansorchids.com/servlet/Categories?category=Orchids%3APaphiopedilum 3. US $20 - $25, BS? Deerwood Orchids; haven't ordered from them. http://www.deerwoodorchids.com/index.php?page=sel 4. US $10 - $30, various sizes. Most are $12.50, $15.00, & $17.50. Hausermann's. Species, primaries, and hybrids. http://www.orchidsbyhausermann.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=PAPH 5. US $25 - $65, in bud. Natt's; haven't ordered from them. http://www.nattsorchids.com/Paphiopedilum.html 6. US $35 - $45, BS. Parkside. Extra good grower, from my experience.http://www.parksideorchids.com/paph_brachy&parvis.htm Maybe you can save a few dollars w/ these vendors? WC8

Also suggest that you put a cutting into water to form roots and a spare plant. If it came to you with a peaty-type potting mix, recommend that you scrape it off and repot or plant out with a regular mix, especially if you get autumn rains. It could keep things too wet and slow down the production of new roots (or rot them off.) And if it dries out for any reason it's VERY hard to rewet in a garden situation. Fuchsias tend to bounce back after drought, dropping leaves to survive, and dying back at the tips. You're likely to get another small flush of flowers before winter.

I think what Mr Miller is doing is rushing a daylily to market to capitilize on a recent trend for big edged daylilies in this color range, if figures, sell one fan now, or 3 next year at 100 instead. Others do something similiar by withholding what they percieve will be a hot selling commodity with limited increase and forcing someone to buy a collection to recieve it.. Its within his rights to try.. If you remember Jack Carpenter diploids from a year or two ago had some outragous starting prices as well.. none of which probably warrented it.. but thats thier opionion as the hybridizer, that something is unique enough to try to capatilize.. I have several rose friends who think daylily people are nuts.. Typically a rose is hybridized, tested, increased (much easier via cutings) and sold somewhere between a 4-8 year range typically. But when released to mass market its still the same price even if its new.. So somewhere around the $20.00 mark, when I explain to them a new daylily from hybridized work 2-5 years ago released this year will fetch 100-200 or more easily their jaws drop.. Silverkelt

I received my seeds from Dean today. He wrote up beautiful descriptions of all the seeds. I'm having a great trip around the world. He also sent me some great recipes. Here's the recipes: Bavarian Potato Salad (German) Suya Kabobs (Nigerian) Iranian Chicken in Tomato Sauce Pepino Aqua Fresca (Mexico) - a refreshing summer drink made with cucumbers. It's 93 degrees today - the hottest day of the year. This sounds good! Pina Aqua Fresca (Mexico) - MMMmmmmm Pineapple drink! Chimichurri Sauce (Argentina) I haven't eaten dinner yet. I can't tell you how good all of these sound! Now for the seeds: Asparagus Beans (China) Blue coco Beans (France) Armenian Cucumbers (Armenia) Super Zagross Middle Eastern Cucumber (Iranian) Cyclanthera Pedata - Lady's Slippers (Andes) Cham-ae Melon (Korea) Alma Paprika (Hungary) Feher Ozon Paprika (Hungary) Cyklon Pepper (Polish) Chile de Arbol Pepper(Mexico) Munchener Bier Radish (Germany) Purple Plum Radish (France) Brandywine Sudduth Tomato(USA) Wapsipinicon Peach Tomato(USA) Italian Market Wonder Tomato (Italy) Whew! Well, I'm tired from the trip. Thanks so much, Dean!