I wholeheartedly agree with all that has been said, but here's another wonderful thing about gardening. We moved into a brand new neighborhood five years ago, and homes are still being built all around us. As new neighbors come, I am out in my yard "doing". It's easy to say hello, and strike up a conversation since you're out anyway. As a matter of fact, I planned a streetside flower border for that express purpose. I want to know my neighbors! I am very proud to report that although this is a pretty pricey, gated community, so far every neighbor, but one, does at least part of their own gardening and lawn care. I believe it's "peer pressure". I was here almost first. I enjoy it, I'm proud of it, and I share plants and tips. Gardening has brought us together as a community. Just tonight the OB/GYN across the street who had never owned a lawn mower till he moved here, brought me two bare-root DAYLILIES that he and his wife bought at the garden show they attended on their vacation last week! He bought a dozen for himself and has already planted them! I personally consider that a triumph! :) Gardening is about the perfect hobby in my opinion. It can be expensive, but it can also be very inexpensive. It can be exotic, spiritual, AND practical. Virtually any age, gender, educational level or social class can do it. There's a place for the artistically inclined, for the o-c collector, and for the totally practical types. You are never too young and (almost) never too old. You can garden if you own acres of land, and garden if you only have a single pot. And finally...I feel very close to God in my garden. After all, that's where life began.

Hi butterflymomok, I can't believe how much pleasure I get out of doing this! I've looked forward to it all winter. I wonder if I could be a personal shopper for this. hahaha

I work at the Natural Gardener and wholeheartedly agree with everyone that it's a great nursery. The focus is on organic gardening along with native and well adapted plants, but it's not a totally dry and boring place ~ we carry enough exotic things that do push the limits a bit to keep it interesting (like Blue Sky Vines, Brazilian Plume Flowers and loads of citrus trees). There are many demonstration gardens ~ a large herb garden, butterfly garden, vegetable garden (I swear it's just like Findhorn in there) and many beds stuck in here and there with the plants we grow planted in them so you can see what they look like at maturity. We have a small orchard, grape arbor, and three water features. And miniature donkeys, goats and chickens, too (the boss likes animals ;). The best part is the information desk ~ it's staffed with knowledgeable people who answer your questions for free, even if you don't buy anything. They have a microscope and reference library to help them find the answer for you and explain it to you so you understand what you're dealing with. There's a horticulturist and botanist on staff as well. This is all because the main reason for the nursery being there is to teach people about organic gardening, to show them that you really can have a lush yard and garden in Texas and do it without using a lot of chemicals or other inputs. When I was trained, the big boss man himself (John Dromgoole) said, "We're not really selling plants here. We're selling organic gardening." I like that. Bok Choi in the veggie garden, taken yesterday (more at the link above, re: Findhorn):

They are much safer in a stroller. Some people use those baby leashes, but that would be much harder with two of them running in different directions. I agree that they are too young to toilet train - and it's not like you could let them go to the bathroom unsupervised anyway, unless you wanted to fish toy trucks out of the toilet. Is there any reason to think that they may have any mild developmental or speech delays? Your town should have screenings for anyone at risk - and merely being a multiple would be considered at risk most places. The preschooler of someone in my town was able to go to a special needs/integrated preschool, and I think the basis for that was not a disability but rather because his father had died, leaving his wife with three kids under 4 and one on the way. I think the little boy was considered socially at risk. My daughter attended the same preschool, due to her language delays, and it was a good experience for her. Door-to-door transportation, in a van with car seats and seat belts, was provided.