Nickels, Dimes & 5 Buck Plans

Goodies for the gal with no sprinkler system. (That would be me.)
Purple Coneflower (obviously named by a blind botanist) is a lovely shade of petal pink.* Less xeric than some waterwise perennials, she's a great indicator of when the garden needs a drink.

My biz partner and I got in a little argument about that evil entity, the bank. Wells Fargo Bank charged us $1 whole dollar to do online payment transfers between our personal checking accounts.

Orange Geum blossoms on tall, skinny stems
that wave back and forth on windy days.

She thought that $1 charge was reasonable. I think it's an outrage! That bank holds the mortgages for both of our houses, making a fortune off us every month. Would it kill them to pick up the tab once in awhile?

I'm not nearly as cheap as I sound. I'm just irrational and old-fashioned. I have a devout belief that customer service is a necessary part of doing business.

I'm also egotistical. I think my huge spring plant order requires a lotta respect! Hugs and kisses, even.

Paprika Yarrow puts up with all sorts of abuse,
while happily putting on a pretty show.

I've never placed a truly huge plant order before but this summer's project is one that requires extra creativity. So, I wrote to several garden companies for advice...

White Flower Farm was wonderful:


Sadly, High Country Gardens was the worst of the bunch:

Five Dollars a Day:
Drinking coffee is great for the garden. Not drinking coffee is even better!

These days, I save the 5 spot I used to donate to Starbucks every morning. It goes in a shoe box, because if it goes in the bank it goes for something completely boring, like utilities.

$5 a day = $1,825 in one year. (Do NOT under any circumstances use this fun money for something practical.)

Spend a nickel, save the dime.

*Purple Coneflowers are now available in a variety of colors, though interestingly enough, they still don't come in purple.