I sound like a shill for Santa Rosa. Every plant ordered has a point value. Every 100 points can be exchanged for a discount on the next order. 100 pts = $1.00. Last couple of years, at least, they also periodically email $5.00 discount coupons off a minimum $20.00 order. AND you can use both the coupon and the points on the same order. Reasonable and fun. Plus the clearances a couple of times a year and you can see why I LUVVVV "selling" Santa Rosa.

To me the early bird discount was the best.

virginiarose said:What happened to New Hampshire Hosta????
Last year plants were so big and nicely packed. This year dirt everywhere, I paid 12.99 for a hosta in a three inch pot, I got a plug in a 3" pot. The main hosta was 'Midnight at the Oasis' the rest were just to make the postage count. They canceled M@TO and gave me a refund, reason being crop failure by supplier. No email telling me it had been shipped. This box came out of no where and I had a big mess to deal with last night. I am happy with 'Great Expectations', it is at least three times bigger than the ones I have, and Eternal Flame is nice size, I just need to clean them up and repot them, but I am out of potting soil, I didn't know they were coming. Probably the most important thing for customer service is communication. If I had known M@TO was not available I would cancel whole order. They lured me in with this beautiful hosta which was not even there, it was supposed to come from a supplier. Midnight at the Oasis will go back on the list, but NHH is off the list.

My new plants have perked up quite a bit and I am pleased, almost. Have not heard from NHH, trying to get refund for Fire and Ice, it was not supposed to be a plug, the two plugs are 'Andrew' and 'Brass Ring', The potted hosta's are 'Great Expectations' and' Eternal Flame'

Well, I got a email from NHH, they have issued a full refund. However he (Richard something) said I was the only one with a problem, everyone else commented about the great packing and how wonderful the plants were. That really made me feel two inches tall. I don't care about the money and He just made excuses for the F&I saying it was a slow grower, but 'Great Expectations' is a lot slower than F&I and that one he sent is huge compared to the others I have. I just feel like this is a very big company with a lot of good feedback and they are not worried about my opinion. Maybe I should do business with smaller companies, at least they care and they also need my feedback.

That's a thought. The smaller companies and the nurseries in my state have been very good ... responsive, excellent service. I have been going more and more that way with my orders. I find the plants are already very well acclimated as well.

I agree. It's nice to support local business. But it can take a lot of time to run all over the city looking for a particular plant, and the plant I want is not always available, especially newer hybrids.

Karen

That's for sure! The ones from up north, they just seemed to go into shock, they are not adapted to the warmer weather we have. They do seem to develope a tolerance for this heat and humidity after a year or two if they don't die from shock.

I know what you mean Karen, I do when I can. But I can't beat the internet for convenience. How else can you hit ten stores in thirty minutes. However I think the smaller companies appreciate our business more and it is good to shop near your own state for plants because they are more adaptable. Seems like a win-win situation.

You are so right. Our heat and humidity is something else sometimes, as you well know. While there is a zone, or maybe it's a half-zone, climate difference between here and my favorite nursery on the east side of the state, I have had no problems with acclimatization either. It's been a win-win for me.

Oops, cross-posted. Seems we're both in a "win-win" frame of mind this morning.

Susan, do not let that make you feel a bit small. I had a customer that told me one set of his irises didn't grow. No way would I tell him that was odd, because everyone Else's did. I just replaced them, and told him it happens, and lets just try it again. I think that was very rude o NHH.

Something companies seem to forget nowadays is the customer is still always right.

My approach with plants is the same as my approach to everything else I buy -
Support the smallest business closest to home that you can get what you're after.

I just received an order for Astilbes from Mommajacks co-op. Nice packing .Sorry no photos I planted them right away.

Luv Astilbes. I have several. Which ones are they?

I ordered America because its tall and will go with Lilies also Key Biscane. I am developing a hosta garden behind an existing garden and cant really see it from the house because it falls off at the sight line.

'America' is a beauty. And we all get to benefit from it and from your great gardens because you share the photos when the time comes.

WOW Tee.I am really humbled. People dont realize I am a visual person and love- need to have images.
I am semi retired so I use the time to garden and photo and show -off essentially.