Lyndon Lyon has sent me great plants. After two orders, I won't order from Violet Barn again.

I LOVED my order from Violet Barn! Carefully packed for shipment. Every one of the miniatures and semi minis is growing great! I even put down a couple leaves from one and it has baby leaves!

Hi All, I just looked at the Lyon's website. It seems that they only ship to places in the US. It is not very good if you want to order online and they will NOT ship to you. How do you get your package?

I have been ordering from Bloomlovers. She seems to ship during the spring/summer/fall months. I think she is somewhere north of New Hampshire, so it gets very cold in the late fall and winter when she says she does NOT ship. Her plants are nice and big. If some of them failed for me, it is not her fault, but mine. She also sends what she calls plugs, which are starter plants with bare roots. You can take a look at her website. Do not be surprised if you see a french version of the website.

Yolanda

I think bloomlover is in Canada, close to the border of USA.

I ordered from lydon, violet barn, bloomlover and fancy bloomers. Fancy bloomers always send me bonus plant or leave.

The main complaint I've heard about Lyons is that their inventory is not up to date so you may receive substitute plants instead of what you ordered. This can be very disappointing so the advice is to state no substitutions or call ahead to see if they have your choices in stock. At shows, I tend to gravitate towards Lyons sales table. Their plants always look desireable.

I have ordered from the Violet Barn. Their inventory is up to date so you won't receive any surprises. Some of their plants need a lengthy adjustment period in my conditions so it pays to put down a leaf to grow in your environment. I have ordered from Jo's Violets and Bloomlovers but only leaves which were all fine.

Terri

Sillappeal, if you are referring to Lyons, their website appears to be working for me. There are two "catalogs." One functions as a photo library (Quick photo lookup) and the other (Online Store) is for ordering. It let me add multiple items to a cart. Keep in mind that in their system, you need to click "add to cart" twice. Once to select the item, second to choose plant or leaf cutting. Good luck!

Hi All, Hi Joanne, you make a good and valid point about the numerous "vendors" online or otherwise who are able to provide named african violets for sale. We really should appreciate each and everyone of them. Thanks for the reminder.

I know you said that she drives to Niagara Falls, New York every two weeks. I looked up her address on her wiebsite. I shows as Sherbrooke, Quebec, which is southeast of Montreal. I doubt she drives to Niagara Falls, New York every two weeks. Montreal to Niagara Falls, New York is at least a seven-hour drive one way. It would be exhausting to do that every two week. I believe she goes somewhere in Vermont or northeastern New York. It would be a much shorter trip.

Recently, we have had news reports showing people from the US coming through some dead end road through to Quebec, Canada, through a point without a customs border crossing. It is a big problem. Not all of these people are eligible to stay in Canada.

Just saying.

Yolanda

Thanks for all the responses!

In the last 3 or 4 years, I think I have ordered from nearly every online vendor. I especially like Catawba Valley, PJ's and "Piercedm". The last source is a guy who has been getting a little bit of recognition of sorts lately. His name is Ken, out of Texas. He is a hybridizer that raises show plants and sells the ones he's not showing. His plants are always, large, healthy and gorgeous. Lately, expensive too!

But dependable (PierceDM) :)

I want to say - I like Violet Barn plants, they carry a lot of interesting gesneriads, they carry Russian AVs, they have their own unique hybrids of AVS and Streps and I adore Rob's Trailers. So far - the quality of stuff I ordered was excellent - though I recognize the fact that they can send way too small plants at the end of the summer. The way to get with them nicely - is to accept that the sales is final. They sent you the best starters, they packed them very well, you got them in a timely manner - and that's it.

Well, I still vote for Lyon's, especially for newbies or anyone who likes easy care. They usually have a decent assortment of many varied types of violets they test before selling. Joanne

If I want a specific variety... I really do not care if the owners are warm and fuzzy, I want it bug free and well grown. And both LLG and VB - deliver.

And if we would be thinking whom to share a bottle of wine with... WE WOULD ALL CHOOSE ROSIE!!!!