Gardenweed (or anyone else who has NOT visited White Flower Farm): People's observations are spot on: most of the catalogue items sold through WFF are definitely overpriced. . .but, as others have pointed out, they have been in business a long time, and have clearly found their upscale market, for whom the price is simply irrelevant . That said, I would humbly suggest that isn't the complete picture of WFF. . . if you live within a reasonable distance, I whole-heartedly recommend that you make a day-trip to this remarkable nursery. You may NOT end up buying anything -although I'd be willing to bet you will! - but that's not the reason to go. . .they have some of the most magnificent perennial gardens around, (including a white "moon" garden); massive hosta plantings that are decades old; and, if you go during a few specific weeks during the summer, the greenhouse full of their legendary (and wildly expensive!) Blackmore & Langdon begonias will take your breathe away. When was the last time you visited a nursery where most of the perennials were laid out in alphabetical, (and botanical) order? Every few years, a group of us pack a big picnic lunch and head up there for the day - yes, there's acres of lawn for picnics and ample restroom facilities, with lovely restaurants and coffee shops in downtown Litchfield nearby , if you prefer that route. Besides, just spending a day ANYWHERE in northwestern Connecticut is a pleasure! Finally, if you'd really like to learn the history of WFF - and, yes, some of it is manufactured - try to get your local library to locate you a copy of "The White-Flower-Farm Garden Book" (pub. 1966). which is exceedingly rare. . .the first half is all history - they were pioneers in more ways than one - and the encyclopedic second half is a template for the lush catalogs that eventually evolved. I was lucky enough to discover this book in a friend's collection in the early 1970's, and by the latter part of that decade, I had made my first pilgrimage to CT. . .and 35 years later, while no longer one of their customers (the competitive nursery industry has exploded since those early days), I still look forward to those trips north. It's a fascinating journey, on so many different levels. . . Carl

They seem to be pricier than most sellers, but what I have received have been large and health. They shipped during a frozen week in January and all my bulbs were freeze-damaged, and they replaced all 10. They have good customer service. It is odd that a couple of their bulbs seem to have unique names and are available by other names (eg, their FANTASY = others' GERVASE). If there is a bulb that is not availabe except in a pot, you can ask if there is a "bulb only" option and I have gotten a couple that way. K

For those of you who think you can't grow lupines, I grow them here in Florida. You have to pick a variety that blooms the first year, and start them as soon as you can in the fall for winter and spring bloom. Having said that, I planted Tutti Frutti lupines this year, got a wonderful sprout rate, and the plants were large and healthy. But this year, as last year, we went straight from freezing temps to high eighties, and I don't think they are going to bloom. I have been very successful with them in the past, though.

Thanks for the ID, Tyrlych! Both "weeds" are nice looking plants. I had no idea that the Gibasis is a plant normally cultivated.