Meredith -- if the ones that rotted were from a PNW grower -- then it's possible that they were very large rhizomes, very fleshy, and found it hard to make the transition to an eastern climate. The exact same cultivar from a mid-western grower, or an eastern grower, could have adapted to your climate more easily. It makes a good case for buying from a grower closer geographically to where you live.
