It’s a bummer for me because they were so close.

Wanted to order a few (there's that phrase again) earlier this year and got no response to emails checking on availability. Found them some place else. I thought if you can't return my emails, you don't want my business. They weren't the only ones to lose an opportunity for my business that way. Ok, rant over.

I agree, Esther. Rob is great... friendly and always prompt getting back to me. But I'm sure it's a huge job to manage all the aspects of that business... and hard to get someone to provide the kind of service that he did. And I always got very nice plants there.

Sigh, being in Kansas and starting a new garden at new house soon I was anticipating to shop there next spring. Sigh ...

Awww, crap. I had an order ready in July, then decided to postpone until Spring. Oh well, better to know. Even if I had placed order, sounds like it might have been a hassle. Thanks for posting.

windymess, sorry for my rant about sellers not returning emails on your post.

dstickrod77- LOL... no worries at all! That wasn't really even much of a rant by my standards! And I think we all understand that frustration with ordering things. After all, they are supposedly in business to make money, right?

Well, it's definitely a disappointment to lose this source of great plants, and great variety. But I've started making my list for next year, and I'll just have to search for those plants from other vendors when they release their catalogs.

Windymess, I wouldn't worry. There are several sterling suppliers of hostas that veterans of this website have listed many times--Hallsons, Naylor Creek, NH Hostas, Hostas Direct, etc. I am sure you will have ample supplies of beautiful hostas to choose from. It is just a shame that a fine source like Hostaguy is no more.

windymess, after you posted the other day Rob had a post on Facebook in Hosta Buyers Guide group listing various greenhouse items for sale. I went back a little farther and saw his announcement about closing the greenhouse to focus on the tc end of it. He said he took down his page Made In the Shade Gardens and had a Made In the Shade Tissue Culture page. Here was his message from June 5:

"It is with mixed emotions that I must announce that I am no longer the owner of Made in the Shade Garden’s retail/mail order hosta business. I was honored to serve you over the last 19 years. As of January 1, 2018 the new owner is Trey Rutledge. Please join me in wishing Trey every success. I trust you will afford Trey the opportunity to gain your confidence just as you afforded me that same opportunity 19 years ago.

To avoid any confusion, I will be taking down my Made in the Shade Gardens Facebook page. You can continue to follow me on my new Made in the Shade Tissue Culture page. There I will try to give you a behind the scenes look at what goes on in a plant tissue culture lab and a look ahead of new hosta introductions that we are working on in the lab.

Hosta’ly,
Rob Mortko
Made in the Shade TC"

dstickrod77 - that's really interesting. I looked at his FB page and he has the step-by-step description of his TC process.

FWIW - those of you who are still wanting to order plants... Northern Grown Perennials sent an email today that they have free shipping for the next 2 weeks. I've had good success with their plants. Here's the message: link

I paid Made in the Shade on August 5, 2018 for the hostas I purchased. I took upon myself to send payment, despite their failure (after several requests on my part) to send me an invoice. TODAY, more than a month later, I received an email from them, requesting payment! Wow, they are SO on the ball, right? They don't deserve our business, with practices like this. I am very sad that a great business bit the Kansas dust in such ignominy, but there it is.

Esther - I actually spoke to Rob at our local hosta club meeting last weekend, and it sounds like he was pretty devastated by what happened to the whole retail part of the business... which he spent many years working hard to build up. I wouldn't blame him.... It's really pretty sad.

Windy, Rob must feel absolutely sick at watching the business he built up crash so quickly into the ground. Like a newborn foal trying to stand for the first time, with the legs buckling under them. I don't know where he found that guy to hand off the business to, but obviously it wasn't one of his best decisions.

Maybe Rob can buy it back for pennies on the dollar. Or maybe someone else with experience. Can't imagine how much the guy who bought it lost. Very sad for all.