I have found that it is better to order plants a little bit later than it is to order early. The early plants usually come as bareroot dead looking things and it isn't unusual for the things to not grow at all, then one time I ordered a bit later and they were delivered late Aug or so and they were really good sized plants then and were able to get established in good shape before the ground froze. Have to admit that I've done this once and the company was Roots and Rhizomes. I've ordered both early and late from them and was happier with the late ordered plants. I would think this would probably hold true with other places as well?

Cathy

One would think so, but these came in October. I ordered from Van Dyck's. I had good luck with bulbs from them. I'm sure my hostas and daylilies will be spectacular someday, but right now they're only a few inches across.

Ooh...well, I hope they do come around before to many years pass by. I've ordered bulbs from them before too and always had great luck with those.

Cathy

After many years of ordering plants, I've cut way back on ordering plants unseen from mail order nurseries; so many poor quality plants, esp. from big, reputable places like WFF and Wayside. It's hard to resist those gorgeous catalogs in the winter time, but it's so much better to wait and buy at a local nursery. Of course the rarer things aren't always available locally, and I've found a few mail order nurseries to be very reliable: Niche Gardens, Rare Find Nursery, and Fedco.