I'd like to get "McBeth" and a few others. I have "Big Jim" and another common selection. I know about Just Fruits and Exotics but would like to find a source of more selections. There used to be a great source in California for many types of small grafted loquats (and pineapple guava) but it seems to be long gone. If there is a better way, I'd prefer to avoid the expensive bigger plants shipped in 5 gallons of soil. Any suggestions?

Expensive imported bulbs also have shown up with virus. Some in the US and some from EU and AUS. I would say a higher percentage of box kits may have virus.... But remember you are paying about $5 so the store pays just over $2. You get what you pay for? The more costly bulbs on line may be grown with more vigilance; however, even those growers who take great care are not immune. Again, no one will put in writing that they guarantee virus free bulbs. K

Write a note requesting a catalog from Backyard Herbs and Flowers. 8128 Maurer Rd., Apple Creek, OH.,44606. They are an Amish family so you can only communicate by mail or in person. My wife and I visited them yeaterday and were very impressed with their small business. Their catalog is very informative. If you get a catalog, let me know what you think. luke

This may seem like an overwhelming task to you right now but it can be quite fun and will give you a great deal of satisfaction once it's done. I think one of the better ways to get some ideas is to drive around and look at the landscaping that other people have done especially around home styles similar to yours. There are a lot of factors that go into plant choices for landscaping such as: - the type of soil that you have (sand, clay, or something in between) - sun exposure (full sun, part sun or shade, or full shade) - size of the area (keep in mind the mature size of the plant; some plants do not tolerate pruning) - style of home (eg. an island of wildflowers would not look good next to a formal colonial like it would next to a cottage-style cape) - contrast (my neighbor planted several yellow roses next to his yellow house; it looks terrible; red roses would look so much better because of contrast; green tends to be more neutral and looks good as foundation plants such as hollies, boxwoods, etc.) Some advice that I would give is to make sure that whatever amount of lawn that you have is in good shape. It cost relatively little to add seed and fertilizer to your lawn. A lush green lawn looks great and adds the perfect backdrop for a lot of landscaping. Also, don't overdo it with certain types of plants. Trees or shrubs with blue, red, or yellow foliage are meant to be used in moderation. Put too many red-leaved plants in your yard and you might as well hang a "Welcome to Hell" sign on your house. Post a picture of your house here and in the Landscape Design forum and I'm sure you can get quite a few suggestions to get you started.