Joanne - they cannot wrap leaves in plastic - they will rot. You always get some damage on the leaves - they are going to get tossed in the mail. Strong young plant will get over it - and if you have broken leaves - put them down for babies. If you order from any vendor - always put a note - no substitutions - or give a list of plants that are your second choice for substitutions. Bluebird Greenhouses have a very good selection, bunch of rare plants. They recently downsized their operation from greenhouses to home growing- so probably they have less plants- but the quality is better under the lights. These people are very involved in the works of the AVSA - so could be at the Convention or meeting at that time. I personally met owners several times - and they are great people, pleasure to know and deal with. You cannot get from mail as nicely looking plants as you get just unpacked from Optimara truck. These are packed in boxes, transported in the temperature controlled trucks, they do not touch one another - sitting in open sleeves in boxes...But the only thing you can get that way - Optimaras. When you get your parcel - you sometimes wonder -if somebody was playing soccer with these boxes. But you are paying for a healthy starter of the rare variety, not for the fact that every leaf in some miraculous way arrived immaculate. Every vendor has some customers who are not 100% satisfied. You can choose not to deal with them again. But - IMHO - these guys are good. You just need to be more specific regarding substitutes. Irina

Thanks for posting all the lovely pics everyone. Mine were hit by a late may frost so although they are all budded up the foliage looks burnt and they are slow to recover so I think I am going to have to deadhead most of them before they bloom so they can put energy into foliege recovery. The ones that were close to the house are doing well though and if we ever stop raining and get sun so they can bloom I will be posting my own pics.

mine are ...well you know.....not building yet thank GOD! We are gettin snow again this comming weekend, how bout you? I still have fishes to share! Ill give you $20.00 gas money to come pic what you want!:)My car is still too sick to drive very far! I will share some meal worms too!

Hiyah, I know we have quite a few folks from GA here. I hate to make a list cause I know I'll miss someone so apologies in advance (I put quotes ' ' around screen names): Me: NW Georgia (Acworth) Genie Guthrie: Suwanee Rebecca: Suwanee (I think) ** I think we have some more folks from Suwanee Cindy ('garmom'): south of Atlanta airport Janie 'josieoh-05': NE Georgia Tara: 15 miles NE Atlanta 'leslie-ann': Snellville 'hursetowhee': here's something I posted last year that may be of use to us: These regional office phone numbers are from www.georgiawildlife.org: 1- Armuchee (706) 295-6041 2 - Gainesville (770) 535-5700 3 - Thomson (706) 595-4222 3 - Augusta (706) 667-4672 3 - Social Circle (770) 918-6416 4 - Fort Valley (478) 825-6354 5 - Albany (229) 430-4254 6 - Fitzgerald (229) 426-5267 7 - Brunswick (912) 262-3173 Bluebird blessings, Linda...