I know, right? It's fab. My mother was on me to open it up so the kitchen feels bigger, like she did upstairs, but I really like having all the storage compact and over there.

Zenkitty, if there's an arboretum or local park with gardens and such I'd ask to speak to whoever's in charge of that for a recommendation.

The city is putting in a botanical garden in a park nearby, maybe I'll check there.

Maybe check the university. I guess not all universities have the agricultural resources I expect from my exposure to LSU and UC Davis, but they do likely have trees.

Pantries just seem like such a good idea. And yet, I don't think my vague plans to annex the living room as additional kitchen space include a pantry. Hm.

I've always wanted a pantry. It's like a walk-in closet for your kitchen! What's not to love? Speaking of which, I've always wanted a walk-in closet too.

I would love a pantry. I keep wanting to can and preserve food, but there's really nowhere in my apartment to put it.

County Extension Service for an arborist? They're generally bored and eager to talk to the locals about plants.

I had a walk-in closet as a kid - the room my sister and I shared had one. It was great, even shared. I feel like I must have had a pantry somewhere, but I have lived so many places, I'm not sure. Maybe I just stayed with someone who had one? I am pretty sure my grandmother had one and it was terrific.

I think I just got a cat. My great grand boss has a friend whose partner's dog chases her 3-year-old cat, so cat needs a home and I am a sucker especially when it comes to calicos. I am hoping the adult cat will not piss of my elderly cats as much as a new kitten would.

A walk-in closet would be a dream.

Yay calico cat!

My apartment is pretty old-school, so all the closets are small, but there is great built-in storage around three sides of what I think is the practical chimney (not connected to the fireplace).