I've bought 3-4 first year intro's that didn't make it. I won't list them here as something I've done may have had an effect on them. What I can't forgive is when hybridizers show glamour shots of their blooms that look nothing like what you will see in anyone's garden. There are some hybridizers from whom I won't buy because I feel like they're providing false advertising. Y'all are right about the database here. It's invaluable.
I was once intrigued by a poly bloom shown as the main image on the auction. I'd not heard of that intro having poly blooms and wrote to inquire about it. She wrote back saying it was the only poly bloom she'd ever seen on the plant but it looked so good she had to use that image. Grrrrr.
On the flip side, I agree with the comment about hybridizers who post several pics and even videos of their plants.
