Apparently not. Last week I tagged along with DH on a business trip to NJ. I watched from the window of the Embassy Suites motel as the maintenance person swept leaves from the parking lot and deposited them into the trash receptacle. The motel was surrounded by woods. I wanted to ask her if I could have them but she didn't speak English....why in the world would you put them in the trash? HELLO!!

I've been SO tempted to stop and pick up some of those bags of lovely leaves!

I used to live in a small town, and one autumn a neighbor put out three bags of clean, fragrant dried pine needles. Why would anyone rake up pine needles?? I snagged them, and used them as mulch in a shade bed. Beautiful.

You should stop and get them Carol, like $ in the bank as far as I'm concerned. I can take the chipper over to the tarp covered pile and open a few bags whenever I want, that's convenience. Pine needles? People actually pay good $ for that. I'm lucky to have them, but not enough (large) deciduous trees!

The only thing is, I've got a brand new station wagon and am REALLY trying not to wreck the interior with gardening or animal stuff. Boy, is it hard. No trashpicking, either. It kills me.

I should just use my husband's old Toyota truck, and let him drive new car!