Skycrest Gardens in Ames is open, great variety of stuff, plus you can tour the great ponds and gardens there

I've heard nothing but good things about Skycrest Gardens. If you ever get up to NE Iowa, look me up :)

You know, I actually DID finally find lotus at the Earl May in Ankeny- I picked one up for $30 and it appears to be in decent shape- has several aerial leaves already and one "on the way". I've got it still the original tub it came in sitting in a larger pot with water. I've read on some of the other threads on the pond forum not to do too much messing with the tubers so I thought I'd be better off leaving it for now. Now, I'm just hoping it will continue to send up new leaves and do well !! It's in a nice sunny spot and hopefully before long there will be enough leaves to camouflage the ugly pot full of dirt !!