Martin House and Garden on US1 (Capital Blvd) at Holden Road, Youngsville (just past Wake Forest) has everything at 25% off and all concrete statuary at 35% off. They also have a nice selection of tasteful Christmas gift items.

Texas, there's much more to life than making a bunch of money. If I'm going to spend 12-18 hrs a day doing something, I want it to be something I love. That's why I chose plants for a career. I'm not rich by any means and may never be, as far as money is concerned. But I enjoy almost every minute that I'm working. I get high on it. It's sometimes challenging, always rewarding, lifts my spirit, benefits my physical, mental, and spiritual health. What you need to do is to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life--not what job you'll make the most money at. You're still very young right now. Take this time to try out different jobs and see what suits you. Try out VERY different jobs and compare what you like and don't like about them. Eventually, the right career for you will reveal itself. I also have a college degree and was destined to spend my life in an office setting. But I decided to give other jobs a shot. I ended up working with a construction company where I was a carpenter's assistant and a landscaper for about 7 years. I worked outside in the sunshine all day learning something so completely different from what I ever thought I'd be doing. And I discovered I loved it. I love building things (even built my own home) and I love growing things. Altho I could make more money being an office administrator, I would hate it. It would stifle my energy and creativity. If you want to do the nursery idea, there is nothing wrong with starting out slowly. Do it part time while working your regular job. Slowly build your business up until you can quit your day job and focus completely on your business. No business you fall into is going to be successful overnight. It's going to take years to build any business up to profitable. But make it a business you'll actually enjoy.

time2sell: "logic - I don't actually have all the permits, but I think the solidness of the back porch is obvious. They could get the permits from the county - cause I know it was repeatedly inspected" This may not be as simple as you may believeÂ....as solidness is only one consideration. Often, if finals were not issued, the permits expire...and the process...and the fees involved...starts all over again. In addition, if code changed during this time, the deck would them be required to meet present codeÂÂas opposed to what was in place at the time. Code changes yearly...so this may or may not affect this particular case. In addition, decks often require zoning permits as well as building permits to insure the deck as not been built beyond the setback. Last but not least...I'm not clear on why you don't have all of the permits....but if the deck was built legally with all of final approvals, the addition of such would be on the CO of the home. Also, depending upon the code in your area, and depending on what permits you may not have in hand, you may be required to dig out footings to document that they were done properly. The bottom line is that you want to market your home...and you are coming here for advice because you are clearly motivated to sell it for as much as possible. However, you admit that its appeal is to a niche market.......that being the case, it is therefore unwise to create an unnecessary nuisance factor, in requiring a potential buyer to perform all of the legwork and expense of obtaining the documentation of the permitsÂas well as final approvals. The added risk is if there is a problem, such as a setback or code issue, it may turn the buyer off on the whole dealÂas there is plenty of other homes to be had on the market. IMO, you would be well served to get the deck issue squared awayÂand move forward with all paperwork in handÂ.or, risk unpleasant surprises later on down the lineÂand at the most inopportune time.

Hi HJ. I dont know if they are a weed in Brisbane but here in Logan you cannot buy them any where. I tried to when we started on the garden as there were a few on our block and I though them very pretty but were told by Bunnings and others that they are not allowed to sell them. I asked why and the person went away to find out, and she came back and told me that it the seeds there are thousands on every tree and once the seed pod opens up they germinate everywhere as they are those fly away type seeds, do they call them winged, something like that. So after hearing that we make sure that all the seed pods are cut off our trees, actually we did it yesterday trouble is I dont know how we are going to get them off when the trees get taller but if we pick up the pods every season at least we will be doing something, and if there comes a time we cant well we will cut the trees down, as by then all the good trees we have planted will be so much bigger....Cheers..MM.