Sounds like you were burned. Was it clems and/or other plants?

Anna, I think most people who have bought plants from Michigan Bulb would feel they were burned. I bought many plants from Michigan Bulb years ago when low prices were my chief requirement, and although some plants did survive and were the plants I had ordered, they were the exceptions to the rule. My biggest complaint is the mislabeling. They advertise fancy, fancy varieties of lilacs and roses and other plants. Some of these plants take years to grow and to bloom. By the time they do, and it's obvious that they're ordinary plants with none of the fancy features, it's too late to complain.

I once read a post somewhere by someone who had worked there. For years, Michigan Bulb offered a rose called "Nearly Black." It sounded absolutely irresistible, and best of all, it was unique: No other nursery was offering it and no one I knew was growing it. The person who had worked there said it was a total scam. There was no rose named "Nearly Black." When orders for that rose came in, "Oklahoma" was sent out. It was a big seller, so Michigan Bulb often ran out of "Oklahoma" roses and had to send "Olympiad" instead.

I do have some absolutely gorgeous clems that came from Michigan Bulb years ago, but they are not the ones I ordered. In most cases, they aren't even the right color.

Is MB connected to Van Bourgundien?
That is another company whose plants are horrible.
I cant speak for bulbs from them.I use other vendors.
Anna, if you want the info on any company that you question.Go to Garden Watchdog and read comments.
I always check there. If the rateings boxes say , for instabce, 100 positives, 3 neutrals, 70 negatives (for instance) I dont even bother to read the comments. Negatives are in close running with positives.
I just figure the company had friends and relatives load the comments in favor of themselves.
I have a spam block on Van B. as well as Michigan Bulb.

No Anna, I have not been personally burned. I am just going by the ratings on Garden Watchdog, and reading about them on Daves Garden.

I had an experience like Zuzu. I purchased from them many, many years ago, and I actually still have some items growing. Plants were tiny, tiny, and mostly misnamed. But I do have a gorgeous cercis canandensis that was worth all the plants I lost.

I did make a purchase from Garden Crossings this year, not of clems, but it was excellent. So that might be a source. I see Joy Creek, that Zuzu mentioned has excellent ratings. There is also Brushwood, and Silverstar. I've had good luck with Donahue.

The top rated companies on Garden Watchdog for clems are, in order from the top, Brushwood, Silver Star, Hummingbird Farm, Garden Grower, Donahue.

Here's a link to Michigan Bulbs ratings. Fun reading.
http://davesgarden.com/product...

I see they hit the automated reply to negative feedback. Its one thing to expect bare root plants. I had VanBourgundien Poppy collection come with roots that looked like they were swept up off the greenhouse floor.
All but2 of the 6 assorted were mushy or moldy.
As a general rule. If the past 12 month ratings are 1/3rd negative I take a pass on the company. MB has 30 ish positive and 20is negative. Goodby and I find somewhere else to shop.
I like Bluestone for perennials as well as Garden Crossings.This company is more expensive but they send bigger plants and I am posting the second bloom this season on a poppy I bought on sale midsummer 2009.This poppy bloomed in late May and then again mid Sept and I just took a pic of the 3rd stem since then.

Thanks for all the feedback. I will pass on the info. I think she was also going to order bulbs too.
Also thanks for some new online shopping sites. I never looked on Hummingbird and I like the way it is organized.

Joy Creek is one of the most expensive places you can buy in OR. A new one on the market that is well worth looking into is FRY ROAD nursery in Albany OR and I believe Ann is now doing shipping.; If you like fuchsia's check them out for those I love and they are great people

D

I couldn't find their listings for clematis. But you are right about the fuchsias and they seem like they are fun people.

Thought it would be fun to add this photo. Little blurry, it was windy. Nearly demented Clematis Sieboldii budding away in mid-December. Had done if for all three years it's been in the ground.

I have at least a dozen blooms currently on my Sieboldii!

Is it the clematis or the crazy Texas weather?maybe those 70 degree days fooled it. I have been surprised that some plants(not clems) are still blooming even though we have had freezing night temps.
Ah California! Is there ever a dormant period there?

Wild, isn't it? I'm going for a little of both. The other clematis don't get this kind of second wind.

Thanks for all the clems.
I had been looking for one to put between lime leaved wigeas and a Jap.Maple.
Hrer is what I came up with. Vagabond.
As you can see tis is in the dream stage.

Anyone know when this blooms? Brushwood doesnt say in all the descriptions.

Love it with the maple!

It will climb over the lime leafed wigea.
Guess I better order it.
Its a short one 6 feet.