Thanks to everyone who ordered! The order is now closed, and I have placed the order with Maguires. I will keep you updated as things progress.

Maguires has previously indicated they will begin shipping in June. If that changes, I'll let everyone know.

Thanks again!

Sounds great, Ryan! Now we all have to start figuring out where we're putting our new stash. Alana

Alana--

I'll keep yours for you.

Maguires received the order, and per their response:

"It will probably take up to 2 weeks to get the bulbs dug, washed cleaned dried and then dipped and dried again. We will be in constant touch with you and up date you as necessary."

Since they indicated previously that they don't start digging orders until June, don't be too quick to dig the holes for these bulbs....

I'll keep you posted.

Any bulbs that anyone doesn't have room for, I'm sure I can find them a good home ;-)

Ryan (Phoenix)

Ha! Ryan, you can foster my bulbs and send pictures for me to post ;-) All of a sudden my picures will be looking pretty impressive! Also would save me coming up with new answers to the question, "where are all these pots coming from?" By the way, Nick is doing pretty well. (I thnk that's the name you gave him, right?) He's outside in a big pot with his GW friends - the Voodoo from Jan and the Christmas Gift from GM, enjoying the NC pollen season. Alana

THANKS RYAN!

For the order and the updates!

Kim

Hey ...
Don't forget about Chaz's Home for Wayward and Ugly Hippeastrums...even those crowded out are welcome! LOL

Thanks for the update Ryan! I am keeping my fingers and toes :O) crossed that all goes well with this order and we will all have happy new homes for our hippies very soon. I am sending you an email. Have a quick question.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Dianne

I Am going to start a new post since this one has gotten so long, but I Am wondering about how we care for these bulbs at first since they are coming from an opposite season.

Please continue to post ORDER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS to this thread. I receive email notifications every time someone posts to this thread, which allows me to quickly respond. I cannot guarantee that I will see posts to any thread other than this one.

Thank you!
Ryan

Just a quick update on our order....

Maguires pulled the order much quicker than I had anticipated. Originally they had said they would start digging bulbs in June, but our order is fully pulled, washed, and treated.

They are in possession of my permit and stickers, and the shipment has departed Maguires to be inspected by the Aussie authorities.

Once the shipment has departed Australia, I will let you all know.

Thanks!
Ryan

sweeeet!!! Im so excited. I hope they make it.

Way Cool!

Our order has shipped. Will update when I know more.

One other point of note.... It has been mentioned in the thread about the Maguires order in Canada, that there was some issue with rot around the neck of the bulbs. I am not a bulb surgeon by any stretch of the imagination, so having me treat your bulbs would probably not be in anyone's best interest.

If they are varieties I ordered, I'll keep any problem bulbs for myself, as it will be easier for me to deal with replacement issues with Maguires.

If they are not bulbs I ordered, I will expedite shipping them to the correct owner so they can deal with them as quickly as possible.

If this is a problem for anyone, please let me know.

Thanks for the update Ryan....was getting nervous wondering if I am getting my new babies or not!

I am so excited!!

Kim

Kim--

Curb you enthusiasm, please! hehe...I kid...

but seriously... our babies gotta make it through customs first-- that is the biggest step they'll have to take. Hopefully, our box doesn't get stuck in some corner...cuz no one puts baby in the corner (wait for it wait for it). Yeah i'm lame....I just quoted Patrick Swazye's character in the critically acclaimed movie, Dirty Dancing...I'll do anything to get through a long Tuesday :o)

Rrrrryan

Wow, how much coffee have you had today, RMR?

I don't drink that poison! Ok I have a coffee-product now and then but have had none today. The banana I had this morning musta had some extra 'nana in it.

Ok, a quick update on our order....

The shipment arrived in the U.S. on May 16th. It was scheduled to be delivered to the inspection point on May 20th.

The word I'm getting from Maguires is that the US has sealed the package in plastic (I'm guessing it is a security measure to ensure no fungal or pest problems escape from the box). Maguires believes this is why the shipment to Canada had the issue with rot, since the box was not able to breathe. And it is likely ours will be much the same.

I will post on here as soon as I learn anything more about the shipment.

Thanks!
Ryan

OK folks, put your party hats on, our bulbs have arrived!!

I got a call that the two cartons were on my doorstep. I've had them put in a safe place, and as soon as I can leave work, I'm going to go home and inspect them.

I will do my best to get them shipped out to each of you as quickly as possible. If there are any problems with any orders, I will e-mail you each individually.

How exciting! I'm gonna head home from work, too... not sure why but it sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the updates Ryan - I had to come here and post when I saw your email :-)
Alana

Here you go folks!

{{gwi:391353}}

I put a soda can in the photo so you can see a size reference. Some bulbs are quite large, others are on the small side. But they all look healthy. I didn't see any noticeable problems with any bulbs, but I haven't inspected each one individually. All bulbs are present and accounted for.

Is it too late to order some more? ROTFL!!!!

Ryan, they look really great, at least the ones at the top.
May be that's why it is not raining there yet, it has been waiting for our order to arrive. yeepee!!!!!!!!

Actually, it is raining here.... a nice gentle rain... been going for almost an hour. Figures, its graduation night at most of the high schools. Those are going to be some wet grads, since all the schools use the football field.

But honestly, what better day for the shipment to have arrived, we had 13 straight days over 100, peaking on Monday with 106, and now today its rainy and we didn't even reach 90.

Yes, RMR, you can order more. Never too early to start queuing up for next years order ;-)

Ah, Super Cool Ryan! Can't wait to get them!!

Ryan, thanks for the pictures. That's one big box o' bulbs! They look great - all healthy and green tinged. Now I guess the sorting begins! Alana

Thanks for the update Ryan! That is great news. I have been keeping my fingers crossed that all would go well with the order. I am really looking forward to getting them planted. Thank you so much for getting all of this together and organizing it.

Dianne

Ok, I spent the better part of today sorting that big pile of bulbs into the individual orders. Phew, what a project!

But now I'm second guessing myself on how I did it.... so I need some input from someone here...

Maguires packaged each variety in those red mesh sacks that you see holding onions at the grocery store. In order for me to divide those sacks, and still keep each bulb labeled with its variety, I picked up some of the brown paper lunch bags. This way I could keep the name attached to the bulb. Didn't figure you guys would want to get a box of bulbs without any labels and have to wait until they bloomed to know which variety it is.

So now I'm wondering if the bulbs will be ok in the brown paper bags. Not worried about moisture, that is why I went with paper... but I know the bulbs will release gasses naturally, and I know you usually use brown paper bags to ripen fruit quicker... so are the bulbs going to be ok???

Can someone chime in with their thoughts on this before I start sealing up boxes?

Thanks!
Ryan

For what little I know, I don't see it as a problem. If they are in a box anyway, the paper won't make any difference. It is keeping the gases inside that does the ripening, not the paper. I would think the separation with the paper would actually be beneficial in a closed container.

That is what I thought too, but I figured I'd just get someone else's input.

It is a dangerous thing when you start second-guessing yourself. But I know how badly you folks all want your new babies to arrive in top-notch condition.

I keep looking at the pile I ordered, and thinking "I want to plant them!" but I'm not going to do that until I get every order shipped. hehehe

Hey Ryan,
Thanks so much for taking on this HUGE project and then for being so careful about everything. We are getting HOT here, so I've left a note for the post man to please deliver boxes to my doorstep. My trip to New Hampshire is a go for next Thursday...home on June 6th.

Thanks again for taking this all on!!
:-)
Kristi

I got mine today. How exciting! Thanks Ryan! Alana

Ryan, I got my bulbs today. They look great, I can't wait to plant them. Thank you for taking on and organizing this co-op, I know it was a lot of work and I am grateful you did it.
Shawn

Ryan, I just received my bulbs, they are taking a sip of superthrive water. I am admired how healthy this bulbs are. Thank you very much for such a nice work and effort.
Maria(secretly hoping next year we'll do the same)

I also received my bulbs and it was like Christmas! Thank you Ryan for taking this on I owe you a BIG favor for sure. The packing and wrapping of the bulbs had to be so much work for you, a simple thank you just does not cover it. Being new here it was so nice to be able to join in on this order. Cant wait till next year....
I also just happened on the thread for becky and brents bulb sale and wow am i glad i did, the bulbs are huge. So now there are 10 new bulbs on my porch to add to all of the others that previously resided on the dining room table.
The seeds have turned into many little plants some already have two leaves on them, thank you for the seeds sent to me by Alana and Kim cant wait to return the favor. I must have at least 75 seedlings now and many more floating waiting to plant. My whole family thinks I am nuts and they are wondering where they will all fit in the fall when they have to come in, no worries I am taking over the whole dining room next year maybe I will take out the table!
This is the greatest forum to learn from and everyone is so helpful, i am so glad I found you all!

Hey there Ryan,
Got mine too, they look great. Thought I posted on here when they arrived but I don't see the post. Anyway, thanks again, Great Job!!!!
Chaz

I'm glad you are all pleased with your bulbs! I've enjoyed my part in all of this, and hopefully we can do it again next year.

I look forward to seeing photos posted to the forum of all the beautiful blooms you get. I just ask that you indicate the Maguires bulbs, as I will forward the link on to the folks at Maguires so they can see how their kids are doing! hehe

Thanks everyone!
Phoenix Ryan

My bulbs from the Land Down Under look grrrreat!

Seriously, Ryan... thank you... you did an excellent job!

Ryan

Ryan!! You made my day yesterday!

Let me say without looking for sympathy...I started my day by being laid off from my "cake" job of 2 yrs. No worries got a severance package and I am now a gardening lady of leisure for at least a month! I got home at around 915 am and when the mail came around noon my hubby gave me these two boxes. One was from another online shipment I was expecting and the other beautiful white box was my Maguire's order from Ryan! Today I am planting them in their new homes! I also looked at my seedling babies that I planted directly in the soil a couple of months ago and when I moved the mulch back I discovered beautiful lil babies firm and green!! I still have seeds from Alana, and a couple of other garden friends here that are soaking and will be planted in soil probably tomorrow as I am running out of time today to do much (I am babysitting the newborn grandson tonight!).

So beyond my babble...THANK YOU RYAN for all the hard work and putting this order together for us. My local gardening friends are jealous!!

Kinghaven, you are quite welcome...my hubby thinks I am nuts for all the seedlings, bulbs, bulblets and just other gardening in general I have going on! Enjoy them!

Thank you again Ryan and I will definitely look forward to next years order!!!

Kim

Ryan, got mine today also : ) They all look great!!!! Thank you for organizing this whole thing and bringing it together!

Like Chaz, I posted a thank you to Ryan here but it did not show up. IT was while the site was having troubles to imagine it got caught in a "trouble bubble"!

Ryan, the bulbs looked so great! Not a single problem with rot on any of my 15, and I am just delighted with them! I have mine all potted now, and am working on getting all my older bulbs moved outside for the summer. I am 1/3 done with that, not counting the seedlings.

Big rush here to get everything planted before I head to ALaska on the cruise with my sis. Actually, going for a manicure on Tues so I better speed up the process! My sis and I will pretend to be ladies of leisure for a week! (Then come home to hours of weeding for the rest of the summer!)

ANyhow, thanks, RYan for all your work on this and thanks to all the others who went in on this order so it was possible! NOw we wait to see what we got...oh my, can you imagine how exciting that will be!!!

Ryan,
Thank you so much for organizing this order. My bulbs came on Friday and I'm thrilled! You made many people VERY happy.
Sincerely,
Jennifer

Ryan,
Hello, its erin. I know that because I am in Canada it may take a little longer for my bulbs to arrive but I just wanted to double check what date you sent my bulbs so I know when to expect them.
Thanks again for all your work Ryan!
Erin

Erin & Hatta, don't kill me, but because of the additional paperwork to send your orders out of the country, they wound up being last to ship. I didn't make it to the post office Saturday before they closed, so they went out first thing Monday. Also, I enclosed a copy of the phytosanitary cert. (the original, provided by Maguires) in each box. I labeled both shipments as "gifts", so hopefully they will just sail through customs clearance without issue. Please keep me posted and let me know when you receive them.

Thanks Ryan, Ill keep you posted.
Erin

Dearest Ryan in Phoenix,

Today, 12 June 2009, I got to see the bulbs! I received them this morning, and all the 5 bulbs are nice and firm. No sign of rot at all.

Thank you verrrrrrrryyyyyy much!

Now I need to top up for the additional shipping and handling cost. Can you send me an invoice thru Paypal so that I can remit immediately.

Thanks again for all the trouble and the hassle, and for taking good care in packing and shipping the bulbs.

Hatta

P/S : Am I the last to receive? LOL!

Hatta, I'm so glad you received your bulbs!!

They definitely had the furthest to travel of all of them.

I think you're second to last, though, to receive your order. I held one order for someone on vacation, they should be getting theirs today, hopefully.

Now that everything has been received without a problem, and all expenses are in, I'm going to tally everything up and see where we stand.

Ohhhhh wow !!!!! Can you count me in for next time an order like this happens !!!!

I just got 103 bulbs from Maguires (total weight 20 Kg). They are top quality bulbs and I should be planting them this week.