Hi Shiver,
Oh,how I feel for you! I have been resisting temptation,some of the online stores drive me wild!
It was 8 degrees with a wind chill of -3 this morning,I'm shivering with you!
Wait a day or 2 to plant the bulbs. If they are frozen they will get a clear,weepy-mushy look.If it's only the outer layer you may be able to carefuly peel the damage off and find good tissue.
Also what danged company shipped to you at this time of the year?Did they protect the bulb in any way? I would consider contacting the company and letting them know what happened. Lora

The bulbs were a gift someone shipped to me---she got them through touchofnature.com. They were NOT protected in any way, just put in a cardboard box. These are the largest bulbs I have ever seen, so large they'll need an 8 inch pot. There are even a few offsets attached, so it seems they were of high quality. I sure hope they make it--thanks for sharing my pain! Sniff.... :(

I just looked at my bulbs unthawing on the counter--they have turned into a blackened pile of mush, slowly disolving into a sticky liquid. :( For sure I'll be contacting the company. I'm uttering swear words right now completely unfit for a lady. Grrrr.....

Aww Shiver,I'm sorry :(I would still poke thru the goop and see if there is anything left in the middle. You would be amazed at what will grow.. Lora

That's really a shame.... sorry to hear they are going mushy, that's a bad sign. maybe something did survive in the middle, but at 8 degrees it wouldn't take long to freeze them solid and die.

Sorry to hear that, Shiver! I received a frozen gardener's amaryllis order once--year before last, I think--and I know how disappointing it is...and how gross the bulbs can get when they melt. The company that sent mine refunded my money as soon as I notified them. I imagine Touch of Nature will give you a credit, so you'll have a spring order to look forward to, at least.

You might put the bulbs in a strainer/colander (that you can later send through the dishwasher) and let them dry out in a warm-ish place for a few days. It's true, there might be viable tissue in the middle. Are the offsets frozen, as well?

I hate winter, too. My sympathy on all counts.

Amanda

Never in all my days as a gardener have I seen something so disgusting....

My amaryllis bulbs have now finished "melting" into this horrible, sticky black goo that smells to high heaven. There is nothing firm left at all, in the center of the bulb or elsewhere. The offsets have disolved completely and there is nothing even remotely identifiable in the mess. Honestly, you would never guess this pile of vile could ever have been a bulb. Truly shocking, but I guess that's what -8 degress can do. Gross. :(

shiver.....Sorry to hear about the bulbs....it has to be very disappointing. Hopeing you will get a credit so you can order again in warmer weather.

So far I haven't mail ordered any bulbs...just picked them up locally....but now I know I will have to order and have them shipped early in the season. So some good has come out of your terrible experience and this post. It may have saved many of us in the colder zones from experiencing the same disappointment.

Sierra

I just thought I should let people know touchofnature.com did refund money without issue. The lady also said that they normally *do* protect bulbs with a lot of wrappings for shipping to northern states, and that my frozen bulbs were indeed an accident. Good customer service. :)

Yes. You should always better ask people about their experiences with online retailers. Touch of Nature is good then... That is nice to hear. The only thing is that they cannot really offer any new thrills to me... All the varieties they carry I already have.
My flower bed is being built. Maybe it will be done today and I will be able to put the soil system and the irrigation in during the weekend, so I could plant out my long deserving, starving bulbs...