Hi Sheryl, Plant rescue is a wonderful thing. I've actually helped out in a rescue. The problem of illegal harvesting from the wild is a terrible problem. Bigger than you think! Trilliums, Jack in ther pulpits and ostrich ferns are some of the most popular. Trilliums take many years to get them to a size where they will bloom and can be sold. There's no money to be made this way. I have a friend who is trialling trilliums raised form seed for part of his work in environmental rehabilitation projects. He's apposed to the collection from the wild which would make it easier. There are next to no cultivation stock at those prices. Let's face it, do you think that they care? I just can't see a builder holding things up to allow someone to go through and salvage the plants. time is money. It comes down to principles and ethics. Sorry I just can't candy coat it and be able to swallow it. Let us know if the packaging indicates that these plants are from cultivated stock. Green Thumb Guy

I'm glad you weighed in as well, Phil. I was wondering about the potted WM version... they had some Halcyon and Blue Angel and I think a couple of other thick-leaved (=slug resistant) varieties for less than $8 that I wondered about. I may go back and get a couple. I think the ones I bought last year (Francee, So Sweet, another one Gold something) - and put in a spot the $75 landscaping lady called "perfect for hostas" but turned out to be too sunny because they all seemed to get burned periodically - will be moved to a *very* shady spot this week, and I want something big and slug-resistant to go along with them. The Halcyon and BA looked nice the other day. If they look nice the next time I look, I'll get a couple.

I wish someone had advised me against buying vinca in March. I completely forgot about the disease or whatever it is that they get before June. I've lost all but one and I'm not counting on that one surviving. At least it was only $5 worth of plants, though!!

I couldn't resist this piece since it is to all political parties it doesn't seem to be partial to any one: Wal-Mart vs. The Corrupt Morons 1. Americans spend $36,000,000 at Wal-Mart Every hour of every day. 2. This works out to $20,928 profit every minute! 3. Wal-Mart will sell more from January 1 to St. Patrick's Day (March 17th) than Target sells all year. 4. Wal-Mart is bigger than Home Depot + Kroger + Target +Sears + Costco + K-Mart combined. 5. Wal-Mart employs 1.6 million people, is the world's largest private employer, and most speak English. 6. Wal-Mart is the largest company in the history of the world. 7. Wal-Mart now sells more food than Kroger and Safeway combined, and keep in mind they did this in only fifteen years. 8. During this same period, 31 big supermarket chains sought bankruptcy. 9. Wal-Mart now sells more food than any other store in the world. 10. Wal-Mart has approx 3,900 stores in the USA of which 1,906 are Super Centers; this is 1,000 more than it had five years ago. 11. This year 7.2 billion different purchasing experiences will occur at Wal-Mart stores. (Earth's population is approximately 6.5 Billion.) 12. 90% of all Americans live within fifteen miles of a Wal-Mart. You may think that I am complaining, but I am really laying the ground work for suggesting that MAYBE we should hire the guys who run Wal-Mart to fix the economy. This should be read and understood by all Americans Democrats, Republicans, Independents, EVERYONE!! To President Obama and all 535 voting members of the Legislature, It is now official that the majority of you are corrupt morons: a.. The U.S. Postal Service was established in 1775. You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke. b.. Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke. c.. Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke. d.. War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and they only want more. e.. Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have had 44 years to get it right and they are broke. f.. Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 39 years to get it right and it is broke. g.. The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before. You had 32 years to get it right and it is an abysmal failure. You have FAILED in every "government service" you have shoved down our throats while overspending our tax dollars. AND YOU WANT AMERICANS TO BELIEVE YOU CAN BE TRUSTED WITH A GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ??