That's a lotta nepenthes!

Ya I know, but I had to! (a lotta / alata)...

I currently have five Nepenthes alata, I love them. They're both exotic and undemanding—and relatively easy to find, hence the fact I have five. 

Talking with a recent garden visitor I found myself explaining why I hadn't taken the jump into the vast world of the truly exotic nepenthes species via mail order—and realized it's the same for another obsession of mine, bromeliads.
I just don't need that hit of hunting down an expensive plant that may or may not survive my care. I'm a generalist (love all the plants! well, at least the cool ones) and—for the most part—I'm happy with the plants I can buy locally. 
It's the same with my agaves really, I prefer to find them in person rather than hunt extensive mail order lists for the hot new thing (hot new thing frequently means lots of dollar signs too). The fact I have fabulous nurseries within easy driving distance helps.
I hope you've enjoyed the images above of full-size pitchers and small ones that are still forming. The plant below went and formed a baby, a whole new plant...