Buying the clearance stuff is a teriffic way to get a lot for very little. While I would rather support good nurseries with helpful, knowledgable staff than any big box store, when it comes to them I think it is important to support those who sharply discount 'left overs' over those who toss them into the trash and charge back their supplier.

Congrats on your score!

WTG, Monica! I have to pick up a few things at a box store, maybe I should go a little out of my way to a Lowe's, too.

You got great deals!

The Lowe's near me has all trees and shrubs 50% off, 1 gallon perennials for $1, and a few 3" pot perennials for $.10, plus their annuals. The guy said they weren't likely to need to go lower in price, because usually by now the landscape companies have brought their trucks in to clear them out. I could only clear out of Lowe's what I could load in the back of my Jeep, which was a mere $25 worth! I will never support wal-mart (they are ghastly on every level), but I feel no guilt shopping at Lowe's, they're wonderful.
(another frugal score there, non-garden related, was a stainless steel, side-by-side $1400 fridge for $400, because of a teensy 1/2" cosmetic dent, still working like new a year later.)
And the other Lowe's near me has almost everything at 50% off - groundcovers, ornamental grasses, etc. Their russian sage + daylilies were cleared out at $1.25 apiece (someone got to them before me.)

good luck getting some finds...

Lowe's has 10 lbs bag of osmocote for just $9 ! Lots of other stuff is also on sale at Lowes - e.g. 6 Hyacinths for 99 cents !