I've been having the same question batting around inside my head since small plants were delivered last week from another source. The poor little things are rootbound in what I consider to be too small 2" pots and it's a bear to try and maintain correct moisture level. Since I don't have beds completely amended I can't plant everything now and the little plants will get trampled as I work in gardens. Scored a load of shipping pots and trays from Home Depot on Thursday. They were just sitting tossed here and there in the outdoor garden section. Asked the cashier if they save them and she said they just collect them at the end of the day and toss. Let me take as many as I could fit in car with all other stuff I bought. Bleached everything, going to reduce excessive drainage holes and use to pot up tiny rootbound plants until I find them permanent home. Took me over a week to figure out I can't hold them over in their present containers and there wasn't enough time before they're damaged too far that I won't have to worry about planting them when beds are ready. Buckets of rain soaked clay soil and haven't been able to work on amending beds for improved drainage. Got email yesterday about Bluestone's sale and was sorely tempted. Think I'll go for some affordable one quarts or gallons at local nurseries so I don't have to face this situation again. Moving them in and out to harden off, trying to maintain proper moisture and worrying about rootbound state isn't something I have extra time for at this point in gardening season. Everything seems to need close attention this time of year! I don't even know "what I don't know yet" about all this gardening stuff...LOL.

Most of the things about mail order plants you have learned the hard way. Been there, done that!! In my area of Southern Ontario, I can find most plants that I want either at local nurseries or plant sales such as RBG or the Univ. of Guelph. The companies that I would recomend ordering by mail from, unfortunately no longer do mail order, e.g. Mason-Hogue north of Oshawa, The Perennial Garden in B.C. Another one, Whitehouse Perennials no longer sends regular plants by mail, but they still send hostas and daylilies. These nurseries sent well-grown, mostly potted plants in excellent condition, and very well packed. I was sceptical about ordering from as far away as B.C. but these too arrived in great shape. At present I cannot personally recommend a place to order regular perennials by mail in Canada. I have ordered from Gardenimport in Toronto several years, but it seems every year they were "out of" certain plants that I ordered, so gave me credit to use the following year. Also their prices are definitely on the higher side compared to the equivalent plant bought on site at a nursery or plant sale. If you live near Hamilton/Burlington or Guelph, some of the very best deals are to be found at the RBG Plant sales, 1st Thursday and Saturday in May, and the U. of Guelph Arboretum plant sale, generally the 2nd or 3rd Sat. in September. Great plants, great prices! RBG has a list of their sale plants available on their web site before the sales so one can peruse the list and decide what to buy. If you check the RBG website, I believe they also sell plants once or twice a week throughout the summer, as well as having a wrap-up discount sale in September. The U.of G. Arboretum has a printed catalogue available a couple of weeks before their sale for the same purpose. It usually costs about $3.

Received my Cedar Hollow order of three roses on Friday. They were polestar, Dr. Merckley and what was supposed to be lambert Closse but instead was polareis. I must say that the customer service at Cedar Hollow is wonderful because I was not going to worry about it but was contacted by Cedar Hollow and asked if the right rose was sent out and if not they would send it out at no charge. Now I have to find a spot for lambert closse as I put the polareis in the spot that I had for it.

I respect your opinion Gil, but you see, alot of us live in rural areas that don't have access to speciality nurseries like you folks living in the big cities. I will order live perennial plants, roses, daylilies, Irises from reputable growers that have a good reputation and customer service, I too have had too many bad experiences with shipping live plants from some of the popular mail order businesses on the Internet. I only order rare or unusual that I know I would not be able find locally around here and I will only order from those that have a guarantee policy. For McFaydens, Veseys, Botanus, companies like that, I've been only ordering bulbs, tubers and rhizome plants too. Sorry to highjack your thread Janet, hope your plants make it as well. Sharon