Sometimes I rescue plants, depends if it is going to be a bargain on a plant I want. Not because I feel sorry for them. Having worked in horticulture/floral for over twenty years, I'm pretty jaded.... Keep in mind that the employees at many Big Box stores are not paid to water. They often are not allowed to take care of the plants. They are not hired for plant experience either. The stores have contracts with the nurseries that grow the plants to come in and display them and water them and cull them. There are also companies that merchandise plants at big box stores that don't actually grow plants themselves. They just run crews that unload trucks and tidy them up a bit and water. Not all the plants and not all stores but I know that the employees are often given a hard time about plant care when they personally have no say in the matter and some would even get into trouble for stopping to water or groom a plant. I interviewed with three of these companies who grow for big box stores earlier this year but decided the positions were too much manual labor and not enough use of plant knowledge for me.

A list from the FAQ section is linked below. I'm sure others will chime in soon with specifics. :) Brenda Here is a link that might be useful: S. California nurseries and gardens worth a visit

I can well appreciate the scope of what this thread is all about. It is disheartening as I have seen some very fantastic spots where native violets and peonies grew and endemic ceanothus and manzanitas flourished end up being stripped clear of all the vegetation. It comes as a shock if you are not visiting the area often. The feeling is almost like being that of rape. It violates your memories and your conscience of just where is it all headed. Are there really any pristine spots left! Yet what is a person to do. It takes time and that means money as well. With a helter-skelter life no one person can do it unless you are totally rich and have the bucks to spare to take actions such as buying up the property. That is what folks like the Nature Conservancy are doing. This is probably the only way but on an individual effort one can begin the ball rolling. See a spot worth saving. Plants worth protecting or removing to safe spots or to native plant nurseries for cultivation. Then take images!!! Develop a jpg webjournal. That is use WordPerfect and load your images onto the page and make your comments and then print those babies out and mail them to the local governments. With jpg files you can email them to the local governments. Inform the persons who can control the use of property even that of private property. The biggest problem facing the protection of endangered plants comes from private ownership laws. It is my property and I will do what I want. This is the way of the White Man! Maybe it goes way back to medieval days where even people were property of powerful lords who did what they wanted to whomever they wanted to! But look now. Is not the federal government being turned towards this feudalistic attitude about the vanishing American wilderness? Teddy Roosevelt would turn over in his grave if he saw what the current administration and the other feudal lords are trying to do to America in the name of protecting it! Protecting that which is cherished falls under that "pursuit of happiness" clause. It is an obligation for all citizens and for all levels of government. Yet who teaches citizenship anymore? Again-take the images-write the journals-send them to the appropriate government-let them know so there is at least an acknowledgment of the fact that this plant or this spot of earth has enough merit to do something to redeem it!

I grew a toma verde tomatillo in a 20 gallon container last year, and it produced at least 100 fruits. The yield was unbelievable and the plant grew at least 5 feet tall and almost as wide. (You will need to stake or cage it for best results.) They are like tomatoes. No need for pollination from a different plant. But, mine was so productive I became like one of those zucchini growers who sneaks them into everyone's mailbox to get rid of all the extras. Yours may be slowed down from being stunted before planting, so you may want a second. But give it a lot of room!