I have never ordered from Park because of high prices and high shipping. I don't order from Burpee either. I take my chances of finding something I like when the seed racks go on sale at 50% off. I do order from ValueSeeds because they are Thompson and Morgan seeds at a reduced price. The selection is not that good, but I always find something I want. I used to order from Pinetree all the time, year in and year out, but I found that I was not happy with the quality of the plants I had from their seed. I started to suspect that they are not as good at quality control as I thought they should be. The disappointments got to be too many and it outweighed my happiness over the prices. They are also small amounts, which suited me at one time but doesn't anymore. Have ordered from Select Seeds and that worked out fine but not cheap either. FEDCO is a great company. They are as good as Johnny's Seed but much cheaper IMO. Lots of seeds for the price, good selection. Shipping prices were great. Fragrant Path is a great little seed company, good quality, good prices and good shipping price. I just wanted to remind everyone that there is a rating forum on GW. You can post about your favorite or least favorite vendors. You might want to look there for ideas too. Garden Watchdog is great too, I use them a lot. pm2

i just want to know how tall they will become when fully matured and wether or not i should leave it in a pot or can i put it in my garden? i don't know what everyone is complaining about. i bought mine at k mart about 5 months ago for about $10. it was about 9" tall with a 3" tall baby one right next to it. i separated them imediately. they have both grown about 2" since then. the larger one at about 11" tall now seems to keep about 6 leaves on it at all times since i remove the older ones as it grows because they become torn and weathered. i dont know if it is normal but the stalk becomes covered in black or very dark red or maroon spots and when i remove the oldest leaf the flesh from the one beneath it is green but only for a few days before it turns black again. it would be very attractive if i knew it was supposed to do that but i am unsure. the small one has 9 leaves on it. the lower leaves from when it was only 3" tall are only about 1" long and remain on the plant as they are in good condition. the newest leaves are at least 3 to 4" long. it is now at least 5" in height and they both seem healthy. i particularly like the bark like ball at the base. i don't know if they will make bananas but i bought it for its beauty. i do believe that losing certain characteristics such as fruit or flowers is a risk that is commonly taken when dwarfing or any genetic alteration is a factor. i dont know if this tree was genetically created or if its just a new found species or if its been around forever but i have never heard of it till i saw it at k mart. i think of it as a bonsai in which case you often have to sacrifice the fruit for the curious beauty.

I have grown H. x 'Ivory Prince' since it was introduced into my market area and consider it to be an outstanding plant. As gardengal stated, the flowering period is exceptionally long and the foliage is attractive all year. I also have a number of 'Candy Love' (H. x ballardiae) and 'Snow Love' (H. x ericsmithii) that have attractive flowers and foliage. All of the above mentioned plants were produced via micropropagation (Tissue Culture) and for the most part, are identical clones of the parent plant. The only variation I've detected, is a slight variation in foliage, from plant to plant and that may be because of their young age. I also agree that, if you want a particular color of flower, you should see the plant in bloom before purchase. No matter how carefully pollination is controlled in seed strains, the genetic variability of plants can produce flowers of a different color. Two years ago, I purchased about one hundred Hellebores from a well respected TC Lab, assuming they were TCs, since there was no disclosure to the contrary and received seedlings of various colors, some were even doubles, although I didn't order those. So far, only one plant has produced flowers that matched the tags provided with them. To say that I am keenly disappointed, would be an understatement! Before ordering online and paying exorbitant shipping charges and receiving very small plants, I would check with local nurseries. At this time of the year, Hellebores should be in stock or soon arriving. I have found that you can purchase a gallon sized plant, often at a lower price than you would pay for a 4" pot from mail-order sources. For example, I paid $6.50 for one-gallon 'Ivory Prince' and $2 each for 'Candy Love' & 'Snow Love' in 5" pots and in bloom. Of course I've paid more for H. x hybridus from specialty growers/hybridizers, that have unusual or desirable flower colors. (In bloom, of course!) I should also mention, Hellebores hate wet feet! Under those conditions, they will reward you by turning up their toes (roots) and die! Select a site with humus-rich, WELL-DRAINED soil, with morning sun, bright reflected light or all day dappled shade. In your Zone, they would probably tolerate more direct sunlight than they can withstand here. After becoming established in a suitable location, they are somewhat drought tolerant and only require supplemental irrigation during long periods without rainfall. Once you become addicted to these winter flowering beauties, you will wonder why you didn't plant some long ago! I have been growing H. x hybridus for more than 25 years and have hundreds of them, in many colors and combinations of colors. Along the way, 12 additional Helleborus species and many seed strains have been added. In addition to the uncounted quantity of seedlings found each year under and near some mother plants, they appear like weeds all over the garden, pathways and in the lawn (ants, beetles, hard at work)? That suits me, as I enjoy flowering plants, wherever they appear, especially during cold winter days, when the garden is best observed by peering out my windows!

Crimony, Herb, I thought US blue laws were bad :( Yes, "Gemutlichkeit" is a sort of feeling of 'God's in his heaven & all's right with the world', with a shade of 'even if not, things are pretty darned pleasant just here and now, and I am very content to enjoy them in this moment'. My intention was to see how many different national references I could shoehorn into the vignette (I now realize that the carpet should be Persian :), not to give you a run for your multilingual money. "Gemutlichkeit" is sometimes (apparently not often enough :) used as an example of a word than has no exact equivalent in English, presumably because English speakers are so little inclined to contently enjoy pleasant moments that they don't need a word for the state of such enjoyment. Guessing that French may be one of your languages, I will confess that to being so French-deficient that I tend to pronunce "raison d'etre" as if it meant "reason for singing cowboys (e.g. Gene Autry :)", and have been warned that travel to Quebec could be hazardous to my health unless I improve in this area :) :) :) Au revoir, - evelyn