I ordered some from Gardens Alive for $13.95. They arrived alive and ready to go after aphids. I can't say that they did a lot of good, or stuck around in my year, but I still find way more ladybugs in my yard a couple years later than I used to. I know everyone says using them outdoors doesn't do much good because they generally take off. And I don't use pesticides, so my beneficials may just be benefiting from that. Either way, it was a fun experiment. (and I don't work for them either) Here is a link that might be useful: ladybugs

I've just found this thread. My best treasures from yard sales fall into 2 categories. - one is decorative things that completely matched the bill of what I was looking for, and had been unable to find at any price. I have a den that has an African/international theme. I wanted large art for the walls that had certain unusual color combinations and fit the feel of the room. AFter years of exhaustive searching in galleries and catalogues, I found a wonderful Eastern European batik - it's looks more African - yellows and reds, looks like a man and woman facing each other (similar profiles to some African carvings), with some fertility-like symbols. It was $4. I would have spend 100 times that and couldn't have found anything more perfect. Then a few years later, I found an Asian cloth painting - probably from Thailand. Again, perfect colors and fit. It was already framed and cost $5. Lastly, we were looking to replace an ugly offwhite accordian lampshade, with colors to match an atypical combination in our LR. Looked in lots of lamp stores, catalogues, art fairs. No avail. Then found one that was tailor-made - can't remember if it was $1 or $3. Hand-painted, colorful, but washed colors (like Alexnadra Julian watercolor sheets). - The other categories of great finds is all the toys I've discovered for my daughter (whose 5). At less than $1, I can afford to buy many things to find the few she might like. It's a great money savings. But mroe importantly, I've discovered toys I didn't know existed and some which are no longer made (like the English Bluebird polly pocket compacts). I love everything about yard sales. Exploring neighborhoods, talking to people, getting bargains, and finding treasures I might never have found elsewhere. pp.s. Oh, and boxes and boxes (hundreds of dollars worth) of Christmas village decorations for $20.

Our neighborhood, Roylene Acres, is having its annual neighborhood wide yard sale next Saturday, May 21st from 8 am until noon. I am having a plant sale in conjunction with them. Here is a link to more details. http://raleigh.craigslist.org/grd/5586022305.html

brittneysgran ~ Happy Friday!! thank you for the lovely box of yard sale items. I so enjoyed opening happy mail. The bird magazines, I am looking forward to reading since I have a bird feeder in the front of my place. I only wished I had more colorful birds that would visit my place :) Thank you for all the lovely goodies and so excited to plant them and watch them grow. I hope to treat them well because I know they came from a loving home. Thank YOU again for the prizes and the lovely box. I so appreciate your time in digging them out and packaging them to send to me. Take care!!!