Congratulations Kristi and Maida, I guess there is still hope for the rest of us...

Donnaâºâº

Nice!

Mine should arrive soon I hope - very cold here - so very worried!

Received my second box and the bulbs were in good shape. Like Kristi said, a little peelling but they cleaned up nicely. They were a good size and Dixieland was really large and with offsets. They don't look like they suffered any cold damage so I'm hoping you all get your boxes soon so we can all share success stories :) - J

I'm very happy for J, Kristi, and Maida! Your news gives me hope.

I'm still waiting patiently after three weeks in transit.

Blanca, yours should arrive soon, mine came yesterday in Redwood City. Nothing better than coming home to a nice box of bulbs!!

They arrived yesterday! A few of them already raring to go with scapes out by an inch or so :) So relieved they are now safe and warm, what with temps in the minus numbers up here.

Got box #2 today and they were in even better shape than #1. No huge (ruined) scapes poking out.

Probably 1 more to come.
K

Hi Chinh, Anna, and Kristi,

I'm glad to hear that more packages are arriving - still nothing here, but ever hopeful. Did all of you (including J and Maida) receive your boxes in a blue bag like Chinh? Having this information this would help me with an inquiry to the Post Office.

Chinh, did the blue bag have any tracking information? It looks like it was sent via air and that it passed through San Francisco. My mailing address is only one day away from SF. With luck, tomorrow may be my happy day.

Many thanks for your help and support!

-Blanca

Mine came in a large blue bag. I did not check the packing label to see where it passed through, but I would think the east coast would sound logical.
Maida

Thank you, Maida! It helps to know about the blue bag.
-Blanca

Today's box of 8 just came in a white box in the mail!

On another note, my last box from WFF came today. So glad to get them as I felt like the risk of freezing was far greater coming from Connecticut.
K

Hurray!!

You can add me to the list of those whose bulbs arrived today!! No frozen bulbs!! A few had scapes that were contorted with a little damage to the tips but I think with some light they will straighten up and be just fine.

All in all, I am very pleased and even more so that after all the fussing and fretting, no frozen bulbs!!

Hope those of you who are still waiting receive your package tomorrow!!

Donnaâºâºâº

Blanca,

My second box came in a blue bag. Went through JFK in New York. With all the packages arriving here, I am hoping you receive yours tomorrow. - J

Dear All,

Thank so much for the encouragement and support!

I appears that there is no way to know if my orders have been shipped in white boxes or blue bags, but I'm staying positive.

Gratefully,

Blanca

Blanca, there is no tracking with the package but I received the 2nd batch today through SFO with a label that showed 11/19/14 arrival from JFK. Hope that helps. :)
Chinh

Thank you very much, Chinh. Every bit of information helps.
-Blanca

Mine were shipped on Oct 30, in 2 packages. The first package to arrive was in a normal white box on Nov 8. The second box arrived Nov 19 in the blue bag with tags from NYC, Paris and with the Declaration tag. Individual brown bags from the big blue bag had all be opened and inspected. Both boxes arrived in very good shape. I do however, have one bulb that I am quite concerned about. The layers appear to be peeled back (like a cut radish flower) with a lot of rot. I cleaned and dusted it with Captan of course but will be holding my breath on that one. Not looking very good at all. And of course, it had to be 'Party'....the one that I love so much!

Glad to hear you are all getting yours now too. So much fun to open those boxes!!!

Best,

Nancy

Hi Nancy,

First of all, if you haven't already done so, take photo(s) to document the condition of your 'Party' bulb. RC has excellent customer service. Should you need a replacement, they still has that variety in stock.

I am puzzled as to the reason, but it is now clear that there are (at least) two different shipping methods being used by RC this year: the "white box" and the "blue bag."

It also appears that the blue bag method may require inspection by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). None of my previous RC orders has ever been inspected by APHIS because the bulbs had been pre-cleared in Holland prior to shipping. Alas, something must have changed.

In contrast, each and every one of my Komoriya orders has been opened and inspected at the Plant Inspection Station in South San Francisco. However, even with the delay due to the inspection process, the bulbs from Japan have always arrived within a week (at most).

I wish that RC would use a shipping method that includes some form of tracking to provide all of us with peace of mind. I will be headed to the Post Office (yet again) as soon as the mail arrives this morning to check if today is my lucky day to receive any of my three orders.

Regards,

Blanca

Good Morning!

I also received my two boxes, one white and the other in a blue bag with the same tags that mitsukiwi mention above. The only bad thing is that I received three rotted bulbs, Jewel Of The Night and Muscadet with basal rot and Melfi rotted in the middle all the way down to the basal plate. took pictures and send an e-mail to Royal Colors. all the others bulbs were in great shape.
Ana

Greetings Ana,

So the "white box" vs. "blue bag" mystery continues. Did both of your orders arrive on the same day, or did the "blue bag" shipment take longer? I'm still wondering why RC is using different shipping methods (even when shipping multiple orders to the same customer).

Glad that you received your orders, but sorry to hear of the rotted bulbs. At least, it is fortunate that two of the three varieties (i.e., 'Jewel of the Night' and 'Muscadet') are still in stock. It's a shame about 'Melfi.' I love that one! if RC offers to send you a substitute, and you didn't order 'Kahlua' already, you might enjoy that new cybister.

Oh where, oh where are my RC bulbs? Oh where, oh where can they be???

Best,

Blanca

I honestly think all the shipments start in the blue "media" M bags. Has anyone besides me noticed that there is no postage on any of these boxes?
The only return address linking anything to RC is in the clear envelope on the side of the white box.

It's a mystery to me. Maybe the secret is in the bar codes on the M bag tags.

One more box to arrive.

K

No luck today.

-B

Hello Blanca!
The white box arrive first, two days later the blue one was in the mail box. I did order Kahlua, and its sending a scape already. I was more sad about Melfi than the other two bulbs, someone in here posted a picture and that's what convince me of ordering, its a beauty. I'm still waiting on RC. I really hope you receive your orders soon!

Received the "blue bag" today in Mn! I had received a white box last week (with 3) But the bigger order was in the blue bag. I was required to sign for both of mine, they won't leave them at the mailbox, and none were froze, yay! The blue bag was mine and a friends order and all look fine except her Cirque de Soloeil, which feels soft and neck may be questionable. I have not peeled it yet as it's her bulb, but I sure hope it's ok.
Blanca, I agree it would be nice to have a tracking system.
I'm glad everyone is finally receiving their orders- I felt like a kid at Christmas! (and Oh how I want to peel her bulb!)

Hi Kristi,

I hope that your theory is correct, and that the bar codes on the M bag tags provide a link back to RC. Thank you so much for trying to help me to solve this puzzling mystery. I would stop fretting if any of my three orders arrives on Monday.

Hi Anna,

That was my photo of 'Melfi.' I'm very pleased that it convinced you to order! However, I'm very sorry that you received a rotten bulb. Please post photos of your 'Kahlua' when it blooms. If i don't receive mine, I will be able to enjoy yours vicariously.

It does appear that orders enclosed in the "blue bags" take longer in transit. Thank you for your good wishes! They are most sincerely appreciated.

Hi Salpal,

Many thanks for providing more detailed information, which appears to corroborate my conclusion that orders within "blue bags" require additional delivery time.

Today, all the postal workers at my local Post Office searched everywhere for white boxes and blue bags. However, there was absolutely nothing for me. :-(

It appears that 'Cirque du Soleil' may be a tender variety that does not travel well. Your friend may thank you for proceeding with peeling, cleaning up any visible rot, and applying a fungicide (I use sulfur powder) before the problem spreads.

Being required to sign for the packages seems to be a positive step because the signature provides proof of delivery.

All the best to everyone,

Blanca

Hi Blanca,

Perhaps yours is taking a bit longer since it appears that the port of entry is New York and you are the farthest away. Also to ease your mind on the shipping address, it is large and clearly printed on the French (France La Poste) tag on mine. My white box had my name and address on it also. I didn't sign for either of mine.

Unfortunately, I didn't even think to take a picture of 'Party'. When I saw which one it was, I was in such a hurry to clean it up and get it dusted to stop any further damage, pictures were the last thing I was thinking of. With all my stuff going on now, I find I am acting first and thinking later. Ugh!

Keep thinking positive. They are delivering mail on Sundays now so you may not have to wait until Monday. :)

BTW, my postal lady tells me they are now doing groceries in CA. Place your order online in the morning and the Postal Service delivers in the afternoon. Do you know anything about this? It is being discussed to do it nationwide. That would be fantastic!!!

Best,

Nancy

Blanca,

Royal Colors said it takes 10 - 15 business days for shipments to arrive so I would definitely contact them if you don't receive your boxes by Monday. This is so much harder since we have all been waiting since August. Good news is that the bulbs have been in pretty good shape.

Hoping your entire order arrives Monday. - J

My last two blue bags arrived today. The bulbs are all large and firm. There was a couple of bonus bulbs in the boxes as well. Maybe done buying until next year.
Maida

What were the bonus bulbs??
K

Kristi,
They sent an additional Palmero and Muscadet.
Maida

OOOOHHHHH!!!! How nice!
Well....you bought enough to warrant it. I got a couple extras along the way too! Daphne and an H###(?), don't have my list in front of me.

Have fun planting. I am ready to hit it this weekend!
K

My last box arrived today. It didn't disappoint! Everything was in really good shape. Seems like I got several extras that weren't on my list of being ordered: Merenque, LaPaz, Tango, Daphne and H544. I might have ordered a couple and just didn't write it down...guess I stopped counting after ordering 25 bulbs!

Nothing was damaged....no rot! A couple mushy layers on Melfi, but some peeling took care of that. Lots of offsets on most bulbs. A jumbo Benfica was the largest bulb I've ever seen!

I'll be busy this coming weekend!!
Kristi

Great order Kristi. I just finished planting mine in the yard. Some are sending up scapes. I hope we don't get a freeze and wipe out all the scapes.
Maida

I had a few scapes broken off in the bag during the month that they were in transport. Stapled bags sure didn't give enough room for scape growth. So, there are a couple bulbs that I might not see blooms for another year. This "hobby" isn't for the weak of heart or those with no patience.

A couple of bulbs had really mushy layers, but I peeled them off and the bulbs seem fine, once they were dried off with paper towels. I saw some nicks and dings that had the "red" of an injury, but will soak things in an antifungal solution just to be safe. With the number my collection has grown to, and some precious new members that were a gift from someone, I don't want to risk things. Overall, my bulbs are very healthy. Out of 300+ pots, only 2 have been pulled out due to signs of the dreaded MV.

My jumbo bulb needed a 2-gallon pot. No way it would fit in a 1-gallon!

I can't wait to see postings with blooms!!!
;-)
Kristi

Hello All,

My order of Merengue, Tango and Jewel of the Night came in this past Saturday, so I'll be having fun this weekend potting them up.

Warm Regards and Thanksgiving Blessings,
Fred

How did they look Fred?? Those living on the east coast, where the temperatures have been cooler, probably had happier bulbs!
K

Hi Kristi and All,

They actually look quite healthy and firm. I agree that the cooler temps helped to keep them nice and sleepy.

Very Warm Regards,
Fred

Hello All,

After the Thanksgiving mayhem, this morning I took pictures of the bulbs to show their condition and before planting them. The only one that's a tad questionable is Merengue. It arrived with a couple of viable roots and some dead tissue covering the basal plate. I decided to try an experiment and very gently scraped away some of the dead tissue from basal plate with a sterilized knife and to expose the undamaged part, then I applied some rooting hormone with fungicide and let it 'cure' for a couple of days. I tried this once before with another less expensive hippi and it seems to have worked. Other than paring down the basal plate, has anyone else tried something like this before?

Warm Regards,
Fred

Here is a link that might be useful: Royal Colors

Hi Fred,

Your plant labels look so nice.

I have a "Royal" headache!

Best,

Blanca

Dear Fred,
3 bulbs? Tsk tsk...are you needing another dose of "the bug"?

Dearest Blanca,
I am so sorry about your bulbs. I think the extra time in transit to you, and the warm temperatures, did them no favors. After all you did to get Rosario for us, it's just not fair!

Kristi

Dear Kristi and Blanca,

Not only is the bug biting, but I think I may have an infestation!!!

Blanca, I'm so sorry you didn't get your bulbs. If it were me I would be going crazy...and I don't need any help. I so hope you get them soon.

Very Warm Regards,
Fred

Dear Kristi, Fred, and all of you kind folks who have been providing ongoing encouragement,

Thank you so much for the support!

There was at least one other factor, beyond the weather, involved in the lengthy transit time. Through trying to understand what went wrong, I learned that despite the shipping notices I received at the end of October; the two orders I received did not depart from France until November 13, 2014. This delay, before the boxes were shipped to New York, may account for the exceedingly poor condition of the bulbs beyond just the weather. God only knows where these bulbs were during the mystery period.

My third order has still not arrived! I am hopeful that RC will discover what happened to it, but from what I have been told; the situation does not look at all promising.

Do you think that this fiasco may cure my bulb affliction???

All the best,

Blanca

Dear Blanca,
I'm not aware of a cure for CHAD. Could it convert to CHAD2 (the second stage of the disease)...Cautious Hippeastrum Acquisition Disorder (maybe Dysfunction)? Once this phase passes, the afflicted likely revert to CHAD. I hope your time is phase 2 is short-lived. I think that I recall seeing date on those tags that were also around the same time as yours. I'll need to check. Since "M" bags are used, and books don't rot, the postal service gives these bags no priority or special handling.
;-/
Kristi

Thank you, Kristi! You brought a quick smile to my face.

Do you happen to know if there is a significant cost difference between Priority Parcel, which is how RC referred to the method that they used to ship my orders, and First Class Mail International?

Is "Priority Parcel" the same as "M" Bag? IâÂÂm confused!

Cheers,

Blanca

This post was edited by blancawing on Tue, Dec 2, 14 at 17:20

Dear Blanca,
Glad I could make you smile.

I don't know the postage rates from the EU. Did you get a blue bag? "M" bags are typically the least expensive way to ship! At least they are from the US. Note, if you got the tags, that the bags were marked as containing printed materials.

Gotta run!
Kristi

Hi Kristi,

Yes, the bags were blue, but I remember seeing the word "flowers" written faintly on some type of declaration.

Have a pleasant evening.

-Blanca

Dear Blanca,

My bags also had departure days of 13/11/2014 (13 November 2014) on the green tags; departed from Roissy."Flowers" is handwritten under the preprinted "Printed matters"

Boxes 1 and 3 arrived in the bag, while box 2 arrived on its own, which suggests to me it had been taken out of the bag for possible inspection. My 3 boxes took 6, 8, and 12 days to arrive, respectively., once they left France.

I wish I knew why yours were not in good shape. It sounds like they sat somewhere really warm and damp.

I recall seeing "Priority Post" (or similar) on the white tag attached to each blue bag. I'll look when I get home. "M" bags are the least expensive way to send parcels that weigh less than 5 kg.

This only adds to the mystery; I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Kristi

This post was edited by kaboehm on Wed, Dec 3, 14 at 14:08

I sincerely appreciate your efforts, and they do help.

The big mystery is what happened to box #3?
Could it still be in that "warm and damp" place???

Many thanks,

Blanca

Sent "priority air".
Posted from phone.
K

edited to rotate photo

This post was edited by kaboehm on Thu, Dec 4, 14 at 13:01