Violet Barn Order - Very pleased!

I really like when someone posts pictures of plants they order from a company or eBay seller. That way I know what to expect when I order, what size of plants they ship, how they traveled in general, etc. I just think it's a bit of a "community service" when we post pictures of orders. My money doesn't grow on trees and I like to spend where I feel like I'll get a good value for it! LOL

Having said the above, I got another order from the Violet Barn yesterday. ( http://www.violetbarn.com if you're interested) I'm super pleased with it, as usual! The sole purpose of the order was to get Aeschynanthus humilis 'Topaz'. I've been waiting for almost a year for him to get it back in stock and it FINALLY was there last week. It's gone again now so I'm glad I ordered when I did. I figured while I was ordering that, I'd get a few other things I'd lost or had been wanting.

I bought 7 plants and found the doggies so got the 8th one free! I love free plants! LOL

Nautilocalyx 'Goteburg' (full of buds! It's a big leggy, so once it finishes blooming I'll cut it back)
Aeschynanthus humilis (this will have red flowers)
Aeschynanthus humilis 'Topaz' (this will have yellow flowers)
Chirita vertigo

This message was edited Jul 25, 2009 2:13 PM

And the second half of the order:

Petrocosmea barbata (free plant, already have it, but it's a Pet. so who cares? LOL)
Chirita 'Little Dragon'
Petrocosmea forrestii (had it, but killed it, spectacular plant so it HAD to be replaced)
Chirita 'Jade Moon'

Everything looks really healthy. No signs of bugs, but of course I'll isolate. Delivered quickly, so I'm very happy.

I need to put a review in the Garden Watchdog for them, I suppose. I read what was there, and Karen's review mentions that she spoke with Rob on the phone. I have spoken with him on the phone, too, and wasn't impressed with him either. It was as if I interrupted his day. :oP He was a bit short, but not to the point of being completely rude. I've always ordered through the internet and have never emailed, so I've been very pleased with their customer service, except for that phone conversation with Rob. It wasn't enough to keep me from ordering from them again, but it is enough to make it so that I'd never want to have to call and ask questions.

Ooh Amy, what treasures you found at Violet Barn! Now I'm gonna have to go lurk around his site again ... it's been a long time! I've only ordered from him twice ( a couple of years ago) and the plants were very small but very healthy.

I wonder if Rob is just maybe the type who isn't a good phone conversationalist? I have a brother in law, married to my sister 40 years (so he's been in the family a long time!) ... he is the greatest guy with the best personality EXCEPT on the telephone! He has always been very short and kurt sounding on the phone but the most loveable, caring "huggy bear" type person in the world!

You'd think though, with Rob owning a business, he'd have better telephone etiquette with customers!

Forgot to say ... one time I had that Nautilocalyx 'Goteburg' (from Rob's no less) ... it grew well and looked great for awhile, never bloomed that I noticced. It died, probably during a time when I was away a lot. I also had Pet. 'Barbata' and Chirita 'Little Dragon' ... both gone by the wayside too.

I still have maybe 8 Chirita's hanging in there, but not looking perfect - far from it ^_^ ...I keep saying I'm going to give them away because I don't take care of them. I like plants that are low maintenance, that I can just hang or sit outside on the deck and they do their own thing. I think that's why I've come to love Hoyas ... they seem to thrive on my neglect, LOL!

I really enjoy the different plants Rob offers. It is a shame that he isn't more customer-friendly, but you're right that he may be the nicest guy in the world in person. And like I said, it definitely won't keep me from ordering from him. I'm very happy with his plants and could have ordered two or three times as many things if my budget allowed. LOL

You sent the Pet. barbata to me! It's the one I still have! In fact, I have the mom plant and several babies. Pets do great for me. Don't know why. I had an awful time with that first one Nancy sent me two or three years ago, but once I figured out how to grow it, I can grow pretty much any of them now.

If you really want to get rid of your Chiritas, I'd be most happy to try and come up with things to trade you for them. I love Hoyas, too, so maybe I'd have a few I could send cuttings of. I haven't propagated any yet, but that's on my to do list. Just let me know if that interests you. :o)

I am working on building a good collection of chiritas, Rain. Ordered every leaf that Cedar Creek violets had almost. Yesterday I got chirita libonensis and chirita brassicoides 'Marble' from LLG.......so just grow away on your chiritas and I will, too...............

Anyone else, I am always up for more chiritas, too........to trade for whatever....

Definitely grow me a Chirita liboensis, please Gail. I'll take leaf or baby plant, but that is one I'd love to have. I can wait til it's ready, though! LOL

She is a baby plant right now and so is brassicoides.........I think they finally broke down and sent me two. I had been asking with each order for them and this time, I begged for a leaf!! ^_^

Great plants. I have had great luck talking with Rob. He talked to me quite a while about a problem I had. I guess it just depends on his day, ha.

I have only ordered once from Rob and never again..............he was so rude...............if I ever order again, I will do it online.

People who really know him say he is just a very unfriendly person by nature............just all business and no pleasure.

I feel that Paul Sorano from LLG is the nicest man to talk to..........also John Cook from Cape Cod Catalog and I could name a dozen other helpful people who are also great vendors...........David Thompson is one of them. Gary Mikita is also very helpful...........

Oh yes, I've talked to Gary Mikita ( http://www.garys-out-of-africa.com ) several times and he is just the nicest fellow ever! Very polite, helpful, generous, just a very pleasant person and I have been *thrilled* with what I bought from him!

I placed an order with Lyndon Lyon this week by phone. I had called to ask a question, but the lady was so very nice and more than happy to take my order by phone. We talked about a couple of general growing topics and just had a nice conversation. :o)

Be glad you got the lady at LLG. There is a really nice new boy answering the telephone and he is so cute.........he doesn't know one plant from another...............

I love pets, though have yet to acquire one. Something about that spiral design some have, it amazes me....love to look at them. I finally saw a few in person at the AV show, and I hear they are not all that hard to grow. Your new plants look good, very healthy!