The local nurseries are running clearances, but the big chain garden centers - Lowes, Home Depot, and Walmart haven't even reduced the annuals yet. Sometimes they put the half-dead stuff on the clearance rack (Lowes is best at that), but they haven't done much cutting of prices overall. And the plants get such irregular watering and care that they just become more at-risk of dying after purchase as the season rolls forward. I don't understand what they are waiting for. I saw full-price coneflower gallons at Home Depot, most of them dying. Shade plants and sun plants, baking together in a parking lot display. Roses, eaten to the stems by JB. I was at Lowe's the other day and most of the tree pots had blown over. The wind wasn't so bad - but the pots had so dried out that they became top-heavy and fell over. No one was picking them up, let alone watering them. I am willing to gamble on a cheap perennial, but I don't think I would ever a shrub or tree from one of those places at full price - most of them probably will not make it after all the parking lot shock they are put through. Lowes has a big display of Tropicanna cannas. But they are blooming, and still full price at $12.99. They will soon wilt and look bad. Why not reduce them now, and sell them out at peak appearance? It doesn't make sense - they would blow out of there at half price, and if they wait 'til they look nasty, they will be on the $1 clearance cart. Has anyone worked at a big-box garden center? Why don't their pricing policies make more sense?

Luvs, it must be one of those "computer viruses"... I actually mentioned in another post that I was thinking about purging some dishes. Accckkkk. Prosp, I hope you find some neat stuff at the sales. How is your neck doing? I hope not a lot of pain for you. Mo, yes its a good system in most respects. He's such a laid-back kinda guy, and doesn't care what I do to decorate the house or yard. Or how many collections I have going, or the eBaying, etc. He seldom notices a thing, I definitely am married to Mr Oblivious! However, his obsession with golf means we don't do things together. I was obsessed with dog shows till the Fibro got so bad and I've had to mostly retire from showing. But we've always had VERY separate interests. We don't even like the same stuff on TV, so he watches his and I watch mine. The dogs hang out with me and the cats hang out with him. So guess it all works out. We've been together since 1967. Just sometimes, I wish we shared things and I wasn't always 'alone' doing my thing! None of my "visible" friends like the stuff I do either, except one who likes to go antiquing with me. This is my fault for being so involved in the dog show world for the last 35 yrs tho. Now I've changed a lot in interests and my friends haven't. I blame it all on this Forum and my Garden Junk one, LOL. But I love my INVISIBLE friends, and even if you aren't seen, I often take you shopping with me! Just hope the store employees and other shoppers don't hear me talking to you when I spot something you'd like. hugs, Karen

Another option is to post an ad on your local FreeCycle. You won't get a tax credit, but you should be able to find a good home for it easily. FreeCycle is much safer than CL because FreeCycle members must register and get approved before they can post or even see messages. Unlike CL, FreeCycle doesn't allow come-and-get-it ads because they waste gas. If you do post it on FreeCycle, be sure to ask people to give you a definite day and time when they will pick it up -- this helps to keep the no-shows to a minimum. Also, don't necessarily offer the item to the first person who replies, because some people respond to every posting that seems to have some value, and then don't follow through. When I give away things on FreeCycle, I try to choose someone who lives nearby because there's a greater chance they'll pick it up promptly. Here is a link that might be useful: FreeCycle

About a year ago my 83yr old mother was working on a project and needed some supplies so off to wally world she went. Two and a half hours later she returned home (walmart is only 3/4 mile away) and she was livid. In fact, I don't recall the last time she was that mad about anything. I asked her, "Whats the problem Mom, can I help?" With that she flew off into a tyrade about the trained monkeys, misfits and absolute idiots they have working in the stores today. Finally about an hour later Mother calmed down enough that we could hold a conversation and I asked what had set her off? She says,,,I went to that damned wallyworld to get some yarn & some fabric for my project. After walking about 2 miles in circles around that store I finally stopped at the courtesy desk and asked, "Were is your YARD GOODS department?" She says, "I then set off again, following the instructions to the letter and when I arrived at the what they call the Yard Goods Department, what did I find? Lawn mowers, rakes, shovels, weed wackers and ferilizer, although I think the best fertilizer they have is the BS they pass out at the courtesy desk!!!" I said, "Well Mom, it could have been worse, you could have asked them where the "notions department is", I'll bet they would still be looking for that one.."