Kevin, I think maybe it's not the cost per plant per se, but a few other things. One, we used to get three plants for that same price! Okay, maybe we were spoiled, but that's the way it was and we got used to it. Secondly, the price for the-now-one-plant is for one plant of the same size as one of the three plants. (wow, that was an awkward sentence! Let me try to rephrase!). Not only are we paying, say, $12 for one plant instead of 3, but that one plant is really no larger than it was before, when it was one of a trio. Bluestone advertises that the single plant is larger, but I really see no difference. The POT is bigger, yes, but the plant? Honestly to me it just seems like a plant from the three-pack transplanted to a bigger pot. Add in shipping, etc., and the price is way more per plant than it used to be. I too hate shopping in general, and don't even really like nursery shopping. While I have some reputable nurseries near me, they cater to Fairfield County clients with mega-bucks to spend on their landscapes, clients who don't even usually do their own shopping (their landscape designers go to the nurseries to shop) and I find the plants to be expensive, not always in the best shape, and the nurseries have nowhere near the guarantee and customer service that Bluestone offers. So I would much rather continue to shop at a great place like Bluestone. But if I have to pay $9 for a coneflower, I'd rather zip over to the nursery three miles away and buy a decent-sized plant in a good-sized pot, than order it on-line, pay for shipping, and have it arrive as a three-inch plant in a four-inch pot. Yes, with coupons and sales you can get better deals, and that is what I now do, but I used to order plants at the drop of a hat with Bluestone throughout the season. Now I check out the local nurseries and limit my Bluestone purchases to sale time. Some here may think that is better, as it supports local nurseries. To be honest, I'd rather support Bluestone, after all the years of great service and great plants (both better than the local places, IMO) and I hope the company continues to do well. I just can't justify spending the money for the new return there, and will limit my spending to sales. Sorry to ramble! :) Dee

pm2, You are an experienced gardener, so you probably know that some variegated plants start out green early in their lives and develop variegation as they mature. Just a thought that might or might not apply to your expereince I have a lovely unusual variegated solomon's seal that is yellow and green. Went to buy more and the exact same plant in a pot is white and green. Noticed that the bottom leaves had a hint of yellow. I'm positive that as the plant ages into its habitat it will "color up". That also explains why I didn't recognize it when it came up. I didn't remember buying a yellow and green poly. I dn't think I did! But the yellow is much prettier.

Mine arrived in about the same condition as stage_rat's. I don't remember last year if they were in such tough shape. I'm not concerned; a yarrow will come back from the dead even if it were COMPLETELY dead. The dianthus was pretty tired; hostas were totally fine (Beam me up, Scotty- I got Captain Kirk and Frances Williams); the shastas were fine...the Campanula was also tired, but it'll live, I'm sure. Joe Pye! I forgot about that one; I ordered the short one; the name escapes me at the moment. Oh, and some heuchera- those were mostly fine, but still tired. I wonder if ordering earlier in the season...are the plants looking better? I've never ordered from them outside the sale. I'm thinking I'll order earlier next year.

I have a few hostas from Bluestone, mostly from 2009 when I first got into hostas, plus 1 from 2011. I've had completely mixed success with the plants, and I think it really depends on genetic power/heritage: Antioch, Blue Cadet, Guacamole, London Fog, and Patriot are all great looking plants, but they tend to do well for most people anyway. Big Daddy is still the exact same size. Wide Brim is only slightly larger now. Blue Angel took an extra year to finally jump in size. Halcyon actually shrank but may be finally starting to grow. August Moon is a noid yellow with faint green margin. If you try Bluestone, just realize you're getting smallish quart-size plants. And stay away from any known slow growers or trouble-prone cultivars.