Pretty funny, j4c11. Lawnsite, for those of you who don't know, is a website for lawn care professionals to work out business issues. Apparently it is very good if you are considering getting into the biz. Technically I've been the moderator on the Lawnsite Organic Lawn Care forum since about 2005. If you want personal lawn care advice, they used to either ignore you or make you very uncomfortable about sneaking into their cool website. I was the only amateur they seemed to accept. I have some background in business and marketing, so I was able to help them promote their organic programs. I have not visited there since about 2009, but I see my password still works. Way back then they had accumulated a serious ignorance about what organic lawn care was. They were not even up to Rodale's understanding in the 1930s. By 2009 they seemed to be turned around and had a much better understanding of organic fertilizers, weed control (not really any good ones), and insect controls. I silently backed out. I know they still had some fights, but those were infights and personality clashes. As far as understanding the subject matter, they needed no moderator. They did need a parent in the room to keep them from getting their feelings hurt.

Thanks, everyone, for the great advice. Since I could not find a Turface retailer nearby, and since I did not want to wait (call me impatient), I went to the local NAPA store and bought 25 lbs. of Floor Dry #8822. Cost less than 10 bucks, which is cheaper than dirt. Literally, if you compare to bagged potting soil. Tried out the new mix on a few plants. It's around 50% Floor Dry, 20% gravel, 20% perlite, 10% potting soil. I removed the chicken grit, because mine is for chicks and is the smaller size. Didn't think it helped (but it is nice for rooting cuttings). Here's a pic of my Sarcocaulon herrei in the new mix. I actually liked the look of the mix so much (more natural, if I can say that about a potted plant) that I did not top dress with gravel. I know there are still more fines in there than some would recommend, but I think that, overall, it is a big step up from what I was using. Drains like a Shih Tzu through a goose. Unless I run into issues, I'll probably wait to repot everyone else until they go outside in late spring. Or, if I get snowed in for a weekend and feel the need to get my hands into some dirt. Thanks, again, for all the help. Bill

Weeper - where do I begin.......I can be longwinded....there's just so much to say when it comes to gardening. First of all, thanks for all the websites. You know what I'll be doing for the foreseeable future. I prefer catalogues, but also enjoy websites. I'm still waiting for a Vesey's catalogue. I like plants, but would also like to start trying a few things from seed. The only flowers I've had from seed are Lavatera, which are awesome. I was looking at the Lee Valley Tools website and saw a warming mat that looked interesting. My husband can hook up any and all lights I'd need. You mentioned Trails End Iris. Is it better than Chapman's or just different? BTW I'm on the outer edge of Regina. But don't tell anyone. The mayor and a lot of people are into "I Love Regina" motto, but I don't love Regina. Actually I don't love Saskatchewan either. I don't like the extreme weather. Which brings me to - have you heard of Salt Spring Island Seeds? I think you like seeds. We've lived there, and I think he has a good reputation (?) You asked if my problem spot was sunny. Most of my many problem spots are sunny, hee, hee! The one I'm speaking of is about 16 feet wide by 10 feet deep, give or take. It faces West. Within that space I have 3 small junipers, two 6 year old Schubart Chokecherries (yuck) and a compost enclosed in fencing with a clematis climbing it. The soil is rock hard, and has it's fair share of crabgrass, dandelions, and other miscellaneous weeds I can't name. I started an experiment last summer after reading stuff on this forum. One part I covered with cardboard, one part with black plastic, and another small part with some grass clippings. In the spring I'll have a look to see which was the winner =:) (BTW I don't care for using poison sprays unless I'm desperate.) I found a website today called Finegardening.com. It's awesome! Funny how you should mention Walker's Low Catmint. It's one that I picked from there as a possibility. Also, Just Plum Happy daylily, Firewitch Dianthus, and maybe Cat's Ears. Are you familiar with those? You also mentioned Veronica. Veronica whitley? I love it, but don't know where to get it. I think I could get it locally if I asked soon enough (?) Dutch Growers in Regina has "expanded" in the last while and sells too many candles, purses, jewelery, etc., for my liking. I like my greenhouse to be a greenhouse not a store that sells all kinds of junk =:) Regina has other greenhouses, though. Anyway, anyone reading this has probably gone cross-eyed by now..... Any more thoughts, comments, ideas?

I don't know about other sites, but artfire.com lists the number of items sold in a person's shop; but not the items. It is located on the left hand side of that person's page near the avatar (or image)mine is a landscape right now. In my shop (rhomy), I have greeting cards that are reproductions of my paintings, some decorative painted items, etc. The item number sold is 3; but you don't know 3 what. But you have an idea - something painted or reproduced of original work. A jewelry shop might be expensive or costume. A shop might be for children's toys or clothes. The clothes might be new or recycled or handknitted. Try to look only at the shops that have limited variety of items to compare. Another thing is that it states I have been a pro member since 2009. That isn't accurate, I joined in 2009 but didn't publish anything to sell. In oct, 2010 I decided to take the discount price to sell "pro". So my sales are only since the end of Oct. Ebay would be another way to check what is selling, but I would be careful of only 1 bidder items. Go to the type of item you would want to sell; then on the right upper corner of the listings select (ending soonest). That way you will have an idea of how many listings are about to expire and how many bids an item got. This is the same kind of research you would want to do if you decided to open any business in your town. How many retailers offer my product, what is the quality of the items they sell, their price, etc. Now, in my case, I love to paint. I want to expose my paintings; maybe sell one or 2. I am going to paint whether one sells or not. I have sold on commission but not through my shop. If you have facebook (FB), you might invite your friends to your blog, or you might open a FB fan page (ads & pages)instead of spamming your friends on your FB page. I do believe there are many more sellers than buyers. It all depends on what you want to sell and how committed you are to selling it. cali