Elaine, I'm with you on issues buying plants at Lowe's and other big box stores. They generally don't have a huge variety - especially if you want to grow heirlooms. They had a few last year, and I did buy a couple of plants from them - a Bush Goliath, and something else I don't remember now. The local nursery that I purchased plants from last year has gone out of business, so I will be growing most from seed, and may pick up one or two from Lowe's or another nursery. Horn's has certainly left a gap in the central nursery market here. Another thing is how well that particular store takes care of their plants. Fortunately, early in the season, the Lowe's I go to takes pretty good care of the plants. If there's a big freeze, tho, I doubt the plants will go unscathed, because they don't cover them or do anything else to protect them. Same for later on in the season in the heat. Their plants are always brown and scorched and near death then. I concur with all of Dawn's recommendations, especially Tomatoman's Daughter, and Duck Creek Farms at the Farmer's Market. I have a friend who may sell some tomato plants there, too, and she has marvelous plants, but I'm not sure she'll be doing it this year. She also sold lots of butterfly gardening plants. I'll give you a link to Gary's site! As Dawn mentions, it is not updated yet, but he'll probably carry a lot of the plants he carried last year if you want to look at his list. May we all have a great tomato season! Susan Here is a link that might be useful: Duck Creek Farms

Thank you Dianamo for the info. Sorry I took so long to respond to your message. I am just now seeing it. The site shows some of what I need. I may have to order from them. Thank you for the tip.

Patser... WHAT?? Lol! I think perhaps I didn't word my post correctly! Yikes - no worries, here. Seriously, does Jade have an official fan club, yet? I've thought of starting one, lol! Ironically, John Leeke's site was the first one I frequented when I started getting really into (obsessed with?) the cool-factor regarding the age of my house. That's when I decided Jade was who I want to be when I grow up! (But if I haven't "grown up" by now, I probably never will). :-) I also frequent OHW, as a lurker only, & if you could have seen the look on DH's face when I hollered... "OMG, Jade posts here, too!". (The eye-rolling was at ME, not her - lol). But I think if the poor guy hears me say "Jade says..." one more time he may want to put his head through a window! (But he won't, because Jade would say "don't damage that old window"...) :-) My question wasn't about replacing MY windows with vinyl... But using poor old replaced "period, local, landfill-bound" windows to replace destroyed or missing parts of mine! Sorry for confusing you - hope I didn't make you swallow your gum, lol. Side note... I just spent the evening at DH's company Christmas party, at The Country Club, lecturing everyone with an old house about NOT replacing their windows, etc! :-). They weren't surprised. He's mentioned me & my "fettish", people I hadn't actually met before asked me how I feel about vinyl window replacement, just for fun. surveyors & engineers + OPEN BAR make for orneriness. ;-)

Hi Jill, Congratulations on embracing the new gardening conditions. I'm in Queensland, Australia, sub-tropical, wet summers, dry winters, my area seldom gets below 32F and frosts are rare, but summers keep getting longer and hotter, we are probably 80-100F most of the time during the day. It is very humid in summer though and when it rains it really rains, so as a gardener you can get drowned plants. But my area has been in drought about 8 years, so I am used to growing things in pots, even if not too successful. I'd suggest you try posting back in the US forums, I think there will be ones for desert areas Arizona and such. But also be ready to embrace your new garden experience. I'm sure there will be many expats who are english-speaking working round the gulf areas, if I come across any websites for you to share, I'll pass them on. I'd like to know more about your gardening circumstances, are you renting so that you cannot plant? I know a lot more about pot culture, water savings, mulches etc than I did when we had ample water here, so I might help. You can contact me direct by clicking "my page" and sending me an e-mail