The only garden related item I got for Christmas was a book called "The Essential Garden" which appears to be not much more than an advertisement for various garden tools and equipment. So as a consolation, I treated myself to my first begonia (6" with orange blossoms, very elegant looking) and my first marginata dracaena, which is too big for the spot I was trying to fill. There are 4 plants in the pot, so as soon as I can purchase some more decorative pots, I will divide it. I'd like to put something else in the pot with it, that will spill over the side. What pairs well with the marginata dracaena? I have always had one type of plant per pot, but I want to create little indoor container gardens. I just want to be sure I pair up plants that have similar needs. Anyone have any suggestions?

I've been a big fan of TCTS since I discovered them on Cape Cod over a decade ago. Only about 20% of the store is dedicated to the current "holiday" - - Christmas, Easter, Halloween, whatever - and the rest is a great mix of household stuff. The quality of that household stuff use to be a whole lot better, but I do find lots of great garden items there. I stopped in one off the NYS thruway a few weeks ago and bought a ton of seeds, all less then a dollar a pack. I also got a bunch of flexible pails (super bendable and tough with built in side handles)for weeding and mixing potting mix for a whole lot cheaper than the catalogs sell them. If you have access to a TCTS you should stop by and take a look.

I live in Northern Ontario, but I'll weigh in anyway. $25 is a good price for promix BX, so I don't think I'd look elsewhere. I pay $27 for mine. As for tomato cages I'd get the heaviest ones I could find and damn the price. The thin ones won't last more than a year or 2. We have heavy guage ones that we have been using for 30 years and are worth every penny we spent on them. Perilite I have't bought since I started using Promix, which was years ago. Promix has everything a plant needs to grow.

Angel: Are you looking for something specific? Like Christmas decorations or winter sweaters or boots? Or are you just looking to see what's out there marked down? Cuz if it's the latter, here's this money-saving tip: Just don't look! I feel justified in saying this cuz I have two store merchandise credits burning a hole in my purse. I went to the stores a few days ago, wandered the aisles and saw nothing I needed! It's a good feeling. Trust me. I figure that I'll make one more trip in a couple of weeks or so and that if I don't see anything I want or need (and believe me, that "want" bar is pretty high now!), I'll buy some blankets and donate them.