Having lived in the Triangle area since 1991(17 Years) - I'm practically a native. I've also been fortunate enough to live in Chapel Hill, go to school in Durham, and have lived in Cary since 1995. That said, I'm an explorer by nature and have had plenty of time to discover things that people relocating to the area don't know about. It's sort of like well kept secrets in the area. Today I thought I'd share one of them with you.

I am a big fan of flowers, especially fresh flowers, and like to have them in my home year round. However, it can get sort of expensive. So, many years ago my friend Kelly told me about a greenhouse in Morrisville (close to the airport) that will "babysit" your Orchids. When the orchids are in bloom they give you a call and you get to pick them up and enjoy them, generally for about 3 months depending on the type of Orchid that you have.

There are a couple of places in town that actually offer this service. The first, in Morrisville, is called The Orchid Trail. A few years ago the ownership changed and John Stanton is now the new owner. Paul, who worked withthe previous owners, is still helping out as well. At the Orchid Trail you must "rent" a ¼ of a bench instead of bringing the orchids in individually but it's still a great way to enjoy your flowers. The location is less than five miles from my new home so it's truly ideal. You pay quarterly for the bench at the Orchid Trail. The other place that I used to take my Orchids to is called Orchids by HCG. It's located in Pittsboro, so with gas prices the way they are, I've actually decided on The Orchid Trail. The ladies at Orchids by HCG are absolutely wonderful and they do allow you to bring in one orchid at a time. The last time I checked they charged $2/month w/a maximum of $18/year and an an occasional repotting fee.

If you live in the area this is a great opportunity to spruce up your home on a regular basis.