Jane, I received the official call from Robert Trumbule who is one of the plant specialist. I believe I understand now where you got the "permit" and "nursery license" information. Robert, who was quite the gentleman, said that you do indeed need a permit and/or nursery license if you are selling plants/distributing for profit. With Robert, I used sending plants from Maryland to Virginia as a example/possible scenerio and he replied, "I don't see any problems with sending cuttings or bareroot plants to Virginia as long as all soil is washed off and removed and the bareroot plants or cuttings are wrapped in damp newspaper and sent in plastic bags. Our main concern is plants being sent overseas and the spread of pests. For Virginia, I don't see a problem. But take Florida for example, it would be illegal to send any kind of citrus from Maryland to Florida and vice versa. States like Florida, Texas, California, Arizona, and Hawaii have strict laws regarding the plant materials that enter the state." I did mention your email from Steve Malan (who Robert knew) and Robert said that he believes Steve may have misunderstood what you were saying in terms of the whole 'cannot take plants pass state lines' and 'cannot ship plants'. The catch here is, you cannot sell plants and ship them for profit, but otherwise it IS legal. I also collected Robert's contact information for you (his cellphone, he says he is out in the field most of the time) if you would like to speak to him yourself. Now, my question for you Jane is, how much were you looking to be compensated for these plants? And would you consider a DONATION or a trade for one of your bulbs? Like I said, Robert said it was completely legal and okay to send bulbs to Virginia and I have his contact information if you would like to clarify things for yourself. =)

An heirloom is always open pollinated, but not every open pollinated cultivar is an heirloom. Be careful of marketing ploys used by companies labeling anything and everything they can an "heirloom" and also watch out for some seeds that are not described as a heritage variety but actually are. I think you will be pleased with seed that you purchase from any reputable seed company. I've planted many heirlooms over the years from various sources and haven't been disappointed. There's a lot of really historical varieties out there still pretty widely available, if that is what your interested in. There is a company out in Arizona that specializes in American Indian heirlooms some strains of which I imagine could easily predate Columbus, I'd have to find the name of it though.

Thanks for the input. It's certainly something that we'll be cherishing for years to come! The McCoy's in question were not rich, so far as I can tell, but they certainly had a great collection of pieces. A grandfather clock from their farmhouse was put into the permanent collection of an art museum an hour or two away DECADES ago(only a few blocks from where my wife and I now live, coincidentally), while we found priceless glass vases, several full sets of silver, a grip of various silver items, Victorian-era kitchen items (such as a sterling and glass pickle jar), and a small library's worth of local history books from the late 1800's in my grandfather's basement that he had inherited from the McCoy's in the early to mid 20th century. It's amazing how many families in this area have amazing antiques and decorative pieces that are simply "old family furniture" to them! Most aren't even discovered until estate sales, such as a kitschy portrait of Col. Sanders in a neighbors house that ended up being a Normal Rockwell original. I'll be sure to do a bit more research on the periods and styles you both mentioned. Thanks again. Just for reference, the cabinet is relatively large: over 6' tall and at least 4.5-5.5' wide. It gave the mover fits!

You've gotten some great suggestions. They line up under one of several approaches, & you'd decide what is best: 1) Intentional decorative display only--if you get real pleasure from that and have the display room, that's fine; 2)Daily use with idea that one day they might break, but then, you've really enjoyed them, plus you may have other dishes that will become "heirlooms" for your kids, and kids certainly don't need 6 sets of heirloomm dishes; 3)scheduled ceremonial use--holidays, special days--again, if you have room and energy for multiple sets of dishes; 4) store specifically to be a set of dishes for a kid leaving the nest, though realize that if they have no connection, they'll soon pick their own dishes and discard these; 4)save just an item or 2 to use in fun and commemorative way--maybe a serving bowl filled with ornaments or seashells, a sugar bowl used for a tiny bouquet of flowers, or plant African violets in some teacups, a plate with others on a wall, or something like that. The main thing is to do something in which the price of saving does not outweigh the enjoyment.