Thanks for your suggestions. I called the Potato Garden and was able to talk with someone and place an order right away. It turns out it is the same company as Ronniger's Potato Farm. That explains why their catalog was identical to the Potato Garden! They were having problems with frozen pipes in their office and phone problems, which explains the delay in call back. Hopefully they will send the order promptly as promised.

Thanks for the links, but I'd already found those. I'm really just looking for referrals to sellers, be they ebayers or online nurseries. I just haven't had enough experience buying from afar to know who is reputable and who to avoid.

Hi All, Keep in mind that since Lilies are best planted in the Fall all sellers don't ship in the Spring. John Scheepers/Van Engelen doesn't have any spring sales. Brent and Becky's sells both Fall and Spring but their selection changes. Note also that unlike daffodils, lily bulbs don't ever go truly dormant and should be kept moist and should have some roots apparent when you purchase them. Its more like transplanting. That said, bargain bulbs (WalMart, Home Depot, etc.,) will often grow fine because bulbs have enough strength to send out new roots. But your first season might be less than spectacular. John Scheepers/Van Engelen is cheap enough that if you think to order in the Fall it's a lot better overall bargain than WalMart. The Lily Garden is probably the best for bulb quality. Plus they grow their own lilies so they have very good quality control (i.e., no viruses) and dig them up per order shortly before shipping them out. But you are paying for that and I wouldn't use them for standard varieties like Stargazer, Casa Blanca, etc., that you can get anywhere. Also, because they are lily hybridizers you can find truly amazing new lilies that you can't get anywhere else. (Check out their lilies marked "CP" for Columbia Platte and their "Dr. North Asiatic hybrids.) In the Spring I order from Brent and Becky's. They are intermediate in price and in quality between Van Engelen and The Lily Garden. I've gotten good service from them and good results from their bulbs. -Helen

Briansbotanicals Just outside of Louisville...