1.   Although the plants are more readily available in the spring, mail-order houses and a few enlightened garden centers offer them in the autumn.

2.   And there are great deals to be had at garden centers as winter approaches.

3.   Ask your garden center to call you when they arrive.

4.   Ask your neighborhood nursery and garden center for help in selecting plants.

5.   Ask your garden center to order for you.

6.   At this time of year, shop your local garden center first.

7.   Blackmon, a Master Certified Nursery Professional, says that most garden centers have people with similar qualifications who can assess your houseplant needs.

8.   -- Garden centers often offer better prices and selections on plants in fall than in spring, when demand is highest.

9.   A service was held and, from the garden center, a headstone acquired that bore a striking resemblance to the deceased.

10.   A particularly voluptuous escarole is White Napoli, from Pagano, an Italian company whose seeds are sold in some garden centers in this country.