I bought several plants from Santa Rosa Gardens during a half-price sale a couple of years ago. All came back the following year and are blooming this year. They also guarantee their plants. Buying plants from a local grower will cost more but you'll see blooms sooner. If you have the patience to wait for them to bloom, mail order plants are more economical. SRG also has a nice selection of varieties.

Check out the clearance rack at Lowes too. They had 'Golden Lotus' and other double plants on clearance yesterday. You can get some great deals there. As soon as the blooms are gone, they put them on clearance because people won't buy them.

I also recommend Santa Rosa Gardens as gardenweed said.

I purchased two sets of Lady strain from Brecks two years ago. Seven of them are blooming this year (of ten). These are seedlings so they have some variability. I think this pic shows a pink and a red--my labels faded over time so I lost track of where I planted each type. I don't think any have been the really blue coloration. With their sale and coupon each one was under $3 each.

Brent and Becky bulbs had a seedling mix this year (I don't remember the name)-- 6 for $40 but they are sold out. I was keeping my eye on them to try to get some during their 50% off sale. Two springs ago I purchased lilies and dahlias from B&Bs sale and they were incredibly floriferous the first year. Huge good quality bulbs.

Bluestone has some attractive doubles but they are $12-$16 each. I purchased one randoms helleborus from bluestone 3 years ago and it is doing ok. I think it is in a bit of a dry spot.

This post was edited by trovesoftrilliums on Sat, May 4, 13 at 10:47

-Ech, I got a GL on the clearance rack of Lowes last week too ;-) And a Peppermint Ice.

As for mail-order...
I've read good things about Pine Knot Farms over on the Hellebore Forum of gw. Haven't ordered from them myself btw.
CMK

Here is a link that might be useful: Pine Knot Farms

Thank you everyone! I will have to check at Lowe's next time I get into town. I can only get there about once a month, so I miss a lot of the sales. I do love the sale rack there though!

In the mean time I will check some of the other places mentioned. Our snow just left this past week, so I can now start picking up things to go into the garden.

Jenny P

Try Joy Creek Nursery.
Have always gotten great things from them

I bought 9 doubles from Pine Knot Farms a few weeks ago when they came to Plantasia in Charleston, SC. They are gorgeous and super healthy.