Has anyone ordered from Ted Green in Hawaii?
summer_fashion
13 years ago
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gennykins
13 years agowrynsmom
13 years agoRelated Discussions
Has anyone ordered from stark bros?
Comments (9)I have about 50 Stark & 12 ACN trees in the ground ranging 2 to 5 years, they are all alive, fruiting and growing. Any issues that I have are self-imposed. In addition, I bought 6 hardy figs 2 years ago and complained that they didn't come out of dormancy. They were replaced without question. Problem is, I didn't know figs or the concept of "die-back". I believe I pulled trees prematurely and should have waited before complaining... I completed thinning my orchard today and wish I knew back then what I "think" I know now... I have been reading this forum, watching youtubes, joined clubs, bought Kindle scripts, etc... for 5 years and have read many books. I still have very little expertise that I could pass on... Fruit growing is "hard" and I'm no "dumb bunny"....See MoreHas anyone ordered from The Violet Barn??
Comments (58)I feel so conflicted reading this thread. I've been yelled at by a plant vendor... I misread an email about plant availability and my subsequent response was perceived as pushy/insistent/entitled, when really I just completely misunderstood. I tried to immediately follow up and correct it, but my correction wasn't seen. I'm very conflict averse so after I got that super hostile response I was so shocked/hurt/mad I never went back, even though I'd been a loyal customer for years. So, I think we're entitled to our feelings and sometimes just need to walk away. I'm sorry you had to go through that. That said, I think that, when you are collecting rare plants, the situation (for good or evil) is that the vendors have self-selected into the industry due to their love of the plants, not because of their love of business and customer service. And people in small businesses tend to wear a lot of hats and not all are in their strong suits. Sometimes you have a plant vendor who is a super professional organized sweetheart, but usually one of those variables is missing. Generally you have to shoot for "has good plants" + "is honest" and that is a hard enough bar to cross as it is. Your post freaked me out, because at the time I read it (yesterday) I had a VB order sitting behind me unopened, that was shipped during snowy weather and had had to sit in my work office for a week after it arrived, due to an unforeseen event in my travel schedule. I have taken hits of >$200 losses, as has anyone who collects plants (somewhat) seriously. And it is absolutely horrible horrible horrible. I don't think vendors should accept responsibility for transit death. Although a plant replaced here and there can be a good customer relations policy, it's a slippery slope to promise a replacement for every loss unless you are a mega nursery. I definitely think they should remove the "guaranteed" language from their website. "Express shipping in winter is highly recommended and usually successful" ... or "We only ship via express mail in winter" would be more appropriate, and it's language like that that most Hoya vendors use. Can I ask if you are trying to save those Episcias in the picture above? I don't consider myself an expert on Episcias, but it seems like if you put them somewhere humid and warm, like a terrarium, you've got some good stems on them still and they might surprise you and bounce back. My VB order did come through okay this time. I've ordered probably hundreds of plants from VB over the years and some have arrived DOA. I never asked for a credit or replacement because it was such a small percentage that I didn't hold them accountable. The 100% DOA orders I've had have been Hoya orders (from other vendors) and of course part of me was like, "They must have done something wrong/different... why didn't it work this time?!" But then after a few days the rational part of my brain kicked in and I realized that they processed the order like every other order and I just drew the horribly unlucky straw. I try to think of it like how sometimes you go out for drinks with friends and spend a lot of time/money/energy and have 0.0000% fun. I've definitely wasted more money on failed social events than failed plant events. That probably says something about my personality limitations. @xmahini I applaud your attitude. I do think the first few orders you make with specialist vendors can be very rattling, because your expectations are almost always wrong, not quite being an insider yet. But obviously you did the right thing, taking that risk, since your husband ended up very happy. I have to say it's so sweet listening to you praise him for his hobby and skill. He's a lucky man. :)...See MoreIf you were ordering from Ted Green...
Comments (13)Great advice to go for the ones you can't get elsewhere. This is also what I always do. What I recommend be on your list is 1. lucardenasiana. Not only is it very easy to root, but it grows generously right off the bat and your cutting will look JUST as beautiful as the picture in his catalog. This is probably the most pleased I've been with any plant I've purchased from TG. So that's $20. Next, I'd put on 2. erythrina. This was on my first order to TG when I was still figuring things out and it still rooted easily. It is an extremely beautiful plant and, oddly, made prettier by the typical TG outdoor scarring. If you already have erythrina, then I'd go for cv. Christine or latifolia (I really love my var. concolor and you feel like you're getting your money's worth with a sturdy giant thing like this ^_~) or odettea (also roots easily and is very cute). So that's $10. For the remaining $5, I'd choose either bilobata, or montana! These are both cute plants that everyone should have. I should say at this point that an equally recommended route would be to go for megalantha for $30 straight up. I did not find this one difficult to root and it is difficult to get elsewhere. It grows quite well, too, if you keep it cool and humid. Make sure you get the one collected on Taveuni. It is more difficult to root according to the Swedes, but it's worth it! ========== Now, if it were me, (which I believe was the real question?) what I would be ordering is: 1. sp. Mindanao OR ilagiarum OR kloppenburgii 2. soligamiana OR sp. Germany OR D. rosea 3. D. acutifolia ... I didn't even have to look, because I made a list the other night. I just can't narrow it down. ^_^...See MoreHas anyone ordered from the Violet Barn during winter months?
Comments (9)I ordered from Violet Barn in the winter once a few years ago (I got a gift certificate for them for my winter birthday and couldn't wait to use it!). The plants were totally fine even though they spent some time on my porch in a Wisconsin winter before I got to them. I have ordered a number of other tender plants during winter and have never had any issues - though I am careful to only order from established sellers who are experienced at shipping plants during the winter. I usually don't order when it is bitterly cold (I wouldn't order plants when the temperatures are much lower than freezing, because apparently heat packs don't work in such low temps), but someone who knows what they're doing can usually get the plants to you safely even if you live in a very cold region like I do. If you are willing to pay for the Express shipping and it's not bitterly cold where you are, I think you will be fine ordering from Violet Barn in winter. Back when I ordered, they sent the plants in an insulated container....See More
Denise
13 years agotheplanthoarder
13 years agowrynsmom
13 years ago
moonwolf_gw
13 years agorennfl
13 years agocrazyhoyalady
13 years agolesliercowger
13 years agoUser
13 years ago
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