Hi everyone,

There's been many "Disappointed in Ebay" threads, so I'd like to share a good Ebay source...I went on Craiglist and saw a little ad for Tillandias, Bromeliads and Orchids right near my house. I made an appointment with the guy and saw all of his plants. They are outstanding! All of his orchids are meticulously cared for but grown in natural concepts. None of them have that commercial, "forced" look. They are all happily exploring their various mounts, everything from coconut husks to cork to pecky cypress boards to little burlap satchels. Very creative! Many interesting orchids, including the Catasetum "Black Orchid." I bought the yellow variety, beautiful plant. He's got a stunning variety of Vandas, with roots cascading down. I spent $105 (but I actually gave him $120, he was so sweet and wonderful) and I got around 30 Tillandsias (most with 3-4 pups), 5 dwarf and mini varieties of bromeliads (all with more than 2 pups), two Catasetums (very big!), a Dendro keiki (with 6 inch roots!?) and a mature Brasseovala. He just finished chemo, apparantley. He's very kind, knowledgeable but quiet about it. Not a know-it-all. I can tell he is truly in love with his plants.

Anyway, here's the link to his Ebay store!!! I promise it's all good, healthy stuff. I saw it all in person. His ebay stuff doesn't reflect all the stuff he has...I'd message him if you want something else. He's got a ton of different orchids.

http://stores.ebay.com/madhapp...

Don't forget to post him on the Green Pages, Kate. Where's he at?

Ah, good idea. He's in West Bradenton, FL--about 6 miles from my house. It's just a house in a neighborhood with a large backyard full of plants. He has some huge driftwood "trees" with tillies and bromeliads climbing all over them. Really, really cool stuff.

Too bad I dont live in FL, then again i'd have no help if I lived there like I do here.


will he ship to MN I wonder?

I don't know about this fella, but it won't be until March (at the earliest) that I would ship any of my tropical plants to MN. Talk about winter weather!

Glad to see you're still online, Ken. Guess that nasty line of storms missed you yesterday - see any tornadoes go by?

We have it still approaching us, but looks like just the southern tip of the rain band may get to us.

78 humid, overcast degrees and waiting for the rain to come here in Odessa.

Jim

We've got lots of wind, so at least the humidity is tolerable.

We have snow, rain.... sleet... ichy weather. not cold enough for ice fishing as i had hoped but also not warm enough for hiking either really. i might go up with my mom to see my aunt carol.and get some venison for christmas.

We got loads of rain (it never really let up for 24 hours), and numerous thunder-boomers embedded in all the rain clouds. All the tornadoes were in the SW part of Mississippi, approximately 200 miles from Starkville.

I emailed him and told him to keep in contact. i also asked about shipping and handling costs from FL to MN.

I sure wouldn't order any tropical plants at this time of year if I lived in MN.

Unless you get really lucky with the weather, you're almost sure to have frost-bitten plants arrive at your door with little or no chance of survival.

Yeah i know i told him wait until march at the earliest

I'm glad you got in touch with him; I think you'll be happy. He ships all over the country but takes discretion during the winter, I think. I'm heading over there to get one of his Tillandisa "ball" ornaments; I'll let you know if I see anything exciting!

Be sure you take pictures of that T. "ball" ornament. Is it done using 'Ball Moss'?

Here's my tillandsia ball in bloom, Ken. Not ball moss. Little tillies with pretty blue flowers about 3 times a year. It's nearly twice the size now than it was when I got it.

Yea! That's it!!! That's exactly what it looks like...just pups poking out in a ball all over the place.

I love that ball of Tillies.

me too. its realy cool


Marry christmas for those who celebrate.