It's nice to see so many people searching for other carnivorous plant hobbyists in Ohio! If you haven't yet found us, please check out the Ohio Carnivorous Plant Society, formed in 2010. We're having a meeting on Saturday, May 14 from noon to 3 PM at the Big Walnut Park Shelter House in Columbus Ohio. Details and registration can be found on our website (linked below). Lectures, plant shows, discussions on Ohio CP, and a trip to Cranberry Bog! It'd be nice to see some of you there. Cheers! Here is a link that might be useful: The Ohio Carnivorous Plant Society

Unfortunately for you, you will be about a month early for the good hostas. Cahoon's is worth the visit for 2 reasons, even if the 500-600 varieties of hosta aren't on display yet. One reason is to see how much woody plant material can be stacked into a small area. They carry the usual, and an excellent variety of the highly unusual. The other reason is the owner, Rich. He is a national treasure, and I have faith that he will find someone good to replace Rachel in the hosta area! You will also be a month early for the spring opening of the Ruh's Homestead Division, and to see anything at Bob Kuk's place (which is open by appointment only). Wade & Gatton is open but it will be a little early to see much there too. I would plan a trip back in June and spend a whole day there. You will need it to properly tour the display gardens as well as the sales area. Or wait till July if you want to see the daylilies.

"All-in"... our budget is a max of $300k. Ideally we would like to be in the $250k range. Land/lot would not be included in that figure. But things like utility hook-in, driveway (a small one), yard, etc would be. Also, we do not really need/want custom everything. We would be ok with Kraftmaid/Merillat/etc cabinets for example. But we would want "upgrades" like granite countertops and hardwood flooring on the first floor. In other words, nice... be realistic nice as well. Nothing crazy high end needed or wanted. More specifically, we would be looking to build in the Cuyahoga Falls / North Hampton area. Hope this helps and thanks for any insight.

It is almost impossible to give you an idea of price per square foot. For example, are you planning on siding your house with cedar shakes, hardie plank or vinyl? Each is a different price point. How about the roof you're planning on putting on. A standard asphalt roof? Cement tile? Metal? If metal, are you doing standing seam or 5v? Are you planning on putting in carpet? If so what grade of carpet? Not carpet? How about tile? No? What about Luxury Vinyl Tile? Laminate? Or hardwood? If hardwood are you doing site finished boards or engineered? How about your counters? Formica? Granite? Quartz? Appliances? Are you doing something like Frigidaire or are you hoping to put in Sub Zero and Wolf appliances? And even things like moldings. Are they going to be paint grade? Or stained? If stained, what kind of wood? And what size? Even in my area here in SW FL, I could build the same 2000 square foot house with a 2 car garage for anywhere from $265,000 on up to $1,500,000. It all depends on what I'm looking for in finishes. The house for $265,000 will give me builder basic finishes, with clamshell moldings, an asphalt roof, only a 14 seer AC, inexpensive carpeting in the bedrooms, inexpensive tile in the bathrooms with molded shower and tub surrounds, and probably laminate flooring throughout the rest of the house. It would include formica counters throughout, a basic appliance package, and builder grade windows. Compare that to the million plus house which would probably have a standing seam roof, detailed moldings in cherry or oak finish, at least a 16 seer AC, hardwood flooring throughout with specialty tile (think natural stone) in the bathrooms. If the person opted for carpet in the bedroom, it would be a high grade plush carpet with extra padding. Showers and tubs would be tiled, and all counters would probably be granite, quartzite or quartz. Appliances would be the top of the line. Think Miele, Wolf, Subzero. And windows would be custom.