2013 Group Buy for Fall Bulbs :-)

Whether you’re brightening a new landscape or filling in a few bare spots, you might be “in the market” for some spring-blooming bulbs to plant this fall. I’m encouraged by how easily the lily buy went this spring, and I’m really enthused by the size and quality of the bulbs I got from ADR two years ago, so I’m taking the plunge. We’re going to do a group buy for daffodils and other fall bulbs this year!

The first few posts after will be for links and organizational details. We might even use a google spreadsheet (that we can all access) for this one. In the next post down, you’ll find a running list of bulbs that are available or being considered, with prices and numbers.
I may ask everybody to chip in a buck or round up a bit for bags and labels, but I’m not out to make a profit. For me, the benefit will be that many of the bulbs on our list will be ones that I want to buy for my garden!
The next several posts will contain descriptions and details about the bulbs being ordered or considered. I’m hoping that breaking this into multiple posts (1 for each type of bulb) will make it easier to follow along. Look for cultivars to be listed (in theory anyway) in alphabetical order.
**

How this “group purchase” thing works:
I’ll either send out invoices or post a google spreadsheet so people can check their orders. The Lily group buy went so well this spring that I think I can count on people being similarly flexible and cooperative when we juggle things around to make the bulb totals come out even.

Why do we need to get the numbers even? Because the bulbs come in bags or crates… so we may be able to order 50 or 300, but we won’t be able to order 52 or 314. For that reason, I’ll also ask people to order in multiples – 10, 25, maybe 50 for some little bulbs. Our return for all of this jugging will be great prices on a nice assortment of bulbs for fall planting! So far, the ones that I’ve “shopped around” for comparison have been priced 30 to 75% off the retail price for quantities. When 10 of us get together and each order 10 of a certain daffodil, we get to share the discount on a bag of 100. Very nice!

In addition to being flexible to make the numbers come out, there’s another way in which this isn’t like placing an order with a retail company. We’re sharing the risk, here. I’ve ordered daffodil and tulip bulbs from ADR before and been delighted with their size & quality. I feel confident they will make it right if there are problems. But if aliens descend on the bulb fields at harvest time, gobble up the bulbs, and bankrupt the wholesalers, we might not be able to get our money back. Since I’m just a person and not a retail company, I won’t be able to give refunds if there are problems that I can’t resolve with the company.



This message was edited May 24, 2013 6:10 PM

VENDOR

Our initial vendor will be ADR bulbs, where Chris has graciously offered us free shipping on our group order. Their website is here: http://www.adrbulbs.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.home/index.htm If there’s interest in a variety, I’ll check the price on it. (I can see the prices because they let me have “wholesaler/landscaper” access.)

Between now and fall delivery time, if things are going smoothly, I may add purchase opportunities from other vendors I’ve had good experiences with in the past: Bert (“Bleek”) of Touch of Nature, van Engelen, Brent & Becky’s. I’ll do my best to send out Dmail “blasts” to participants when there are major additions or changes.

ORDERING

Post your order on this thread (or its continuation). Make changes or additions in a NEW POST, not by editing your post. Please do not Dmail orders to me. I need all the details right on the thread!

DELIVERY

Please note, I do not want to ship bulbs! That’s just more than I can offer to do right now. The bulbs will probably not arrive before our usual fall swap time, so we will have a special “Fall Festival and Bulb Sorting” party at my place in Frederick on Saturday, October 12. You are also welcome to pick up bulbs here at another time. And if you can find somebody else willing to pick up your order for you (or even mail it to you), that would work. But please do not order unless you live close enough to pick up your bulbs OR can find a “bulb angel” willing to transport or send your bulbs to you.

PAYMENT

The main thing about payments is this: KEEP ME IN THE LOOP. I'd like payment in hand before the bulbs ship, preferably through PayPal. My PayPal address is critterologist@comcast.net Once I place an order for a bag/box of bulbs, we’re committed to buying them, so I may send out at least 2 sets of invoices -- say, initial payments at the end of June and payment for any additions in September. At the same time, I realize that “stuff happens,” and if you really truly need to back out of this group buy, let me know asap so we can try to re-juggle the numbers. The main thing about payments is this: KEEP ME IN THE LOOP. :-)

OK, LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Let’s start with a little of this and a little of that, and see where our interests lie. Initially, I’m planning on ordering from ADR (Chris has very kindly given us free shipping!), but we may also be adding items from Touch of Nature (Bleek), van Engelen, Brent & Becky’s, and other sources.

Some people will be interested in very specific varieties, while others just want “lots of yellow daffodils,” and I think we’ll be able to make everybody pretty happy with the varieties and prices. I know people have mentioned wanting to put in sweeps of muscari, too. I like tulips that perennialize (little species tulips, greggii, etc), but if you can drum up enough interest in parrot tulips or whatever your favorite might be, go for it.

We’ll start with just a few things below, and once we’ve filled those quantities (or dropped them if there’s just no interest), we’ll open the floor for “nominations.” If at least a couple of people are interested in a variety, or if one person wants at least half a bag, I’ll add it to the “official” list, and we’ll order it when the quantity is filled or nearly filled.


This message was edited May 24, 2013 6:17 PM

This message was edited May 26, 2013 8:21 PM

This message was edited Jun 2, 2013 8:25 PM

ORDER List, Prices & Numbers for pre-season sale from B&B I need your numbers by midnight June 31!
Let's try to get a quantity discount on some special daffodils!

'Capree Elizabeth' (large cup, yellow with coral-PINK trumpet) $8.70 for 5 bulbs if we get to 50 5 for Critter, 10 for Pixie, 5 to 10 for SallyG, 20-25 sold, 5 or 0 remaining to get to 25

'Extravaganza' ... ?

'Precocious' (large cup, white with ruffled PINK-coral cup) $6 for 5 bulbs if we get to 50 5 for Critter, 10 for Pixie, 5 for Terp
20 sold, 5 remaining to get to 25

'Roulette' (white with brightly rimmed cup) 5 for $7.05 if we get to 50 10 for Critter, 10 for Pixie, 20 sold, 5 remaining to get to 25

'Solar Wind' (large double white with lemon-yellow) $7.45 for 5 bulbs if we order 25 5 for Critter, 5 for Happy, 5 for SSG 15 sold, 10 remaining to get to 25

'Sweet Love' (sweetly FRAGRANT, multiple stems with multiple blooms, white with white-rimmed yellow cup) 5 for $3.25 if we get to 50 15 for Critter, 15-25 for Devon, 30-40 sold, 10-20 remaining to get to 50



WOOD HYACINTHS
10 hispanica ''Queen of Pinks' - 10 for Critter, 20 for Aspen, 20 for Devon, 50 sold, 50 remaining to get to next price break at 100
10 hispanica 'City of Haarlem' 10 for Critter, 20 for Aspen, 20 for Devon, 50 sold, 50 remaining to get to next price break at 100



IRIS RETICULATA 'Pauline' (solid purple with white, no yellow) $3.30 for 10 if we get to 100 20 for Aspen, 10-30 for Happy, 10 for Critter, 20-40 for Terp 60-100 sold, 0 to 40 available to get to 100

AMARYLLIS from B&B (they are supposed to get back to me to confirm that these will be available for shipping when we need them)
'Ballerina' (double ruffly rosy-coral-pink, Sonatini type, which means shorter sturdier stems) $7.11 each or $6.46 if we buy 5.
3-5 for Critter, 1 for Happy, 1 for SSG,



ORDER List, Prices & Numbers for Phase I (from ADR)
Numbers in parentheses are numbers ordered and available; an asterisk means I’ve already reserved a bag/crate. I'm going to do my best to keep track of orders both in this post and in my spreadsheet, so I know how we're splitting up each variety. The date/time at the bottom of this post will tell you when I most recently edited these numbers.

HYACINTH (oriental)
*(500) ‘Skyline’ (light blue florets with darker “star”), 5 for $2.50 20 for Critter, 10 for Donner, 5 for Terp, 15 for Devon
(500) ‘Skyline’ (light blue florets with darker “star”), 5 for $2.50 10 for gpmd, 20 more for Critter (second bag and others not yet "filled" in June will hopefully be added to July order in phase II)

MUSCARI

*(250 0) Muscari armeniacum, "regular" grape hyacinths (250 bulbs, size 9/10), 50 for $6.20 or $5.25 (if we get to 1000): 100 for SSG, 100 for Jan, 50 for Aspen,

*(150 25) Muscari ‘Blue Spike’ (150 bulbs, size 9/10), 50 for $6.70 or 25 for $3.35: 50+50 for Critter, 25 for gpmd

*(150 25) Muscari ‘Dark Eyes’ (150 bulbs, size 5+), 25 for $5.30: 50 for Critter, 50 for Donner, 25 for Terp


NARCISSUS / DAFFODILS

*(250 50 -100) ‘Actaea’ (size 12/14): $7.25 for 25 bulbs, must sell 250 25 for Critter, 100-150 for Devon, 25 for Pixie ,

*(250100-150) ‘Barrett Browning’ (size 12/14): $8.90 for 25 size 14/16 bulbs OR $7.25 for 25 smaller 12/14 bulbs 100-150 for Devon,

*(75 0) ‘Bahama Beach’ (white bunch-flowering, FRAGRANT, late, size 12/14): $10.55 for 25 bulbs 25 for Critter, 25 for Jan, 25 for Aspen
(75 35>) ‘Bahama Beach’ 2nd bag? (white bunch-flowering, FRAGRANT, late, size 12/14):$6.35 for 15 bulbs 15? for Devon, 25 more for Critter

(75 75) ‘Cum Laude’ (white with huge pastel apricot-PINK "butterfly" corona, size 12/14): $5.55 for 10 bulbs ? for Chantell, ? for Terp

(75 45) ‘Delnashaugh’ (double, creamy white with pastel apricot-PINK, FRAGRANT, size 12/14): $2.20 for 5 bulbs (size 12/14) if we get to 75 OR $7.25 for 25 size 14/16 bulbs if we get to 250 5? for Chantell, 5? for Terp, 15 for SSG, 5 for Sally

**(3 bags of 50 150 30 ) ‘February Gold’ (size 14/16): $4.30 for 10 bulbs 100-150 for Devon, 20 for gpmd


(250 125 ) ‘Geranium’ (size 12/14, bunch flowering, FRAGRANT): $7.25 to $9.25 for 25 bulbs 25 for Critter, 50+ for Devon, 25 for Pixie, 25 for Catbird *(ordered 2 boxes of 75 in June)

(500 450 ) ‘Hawera’ (size 12/14): $7.25 to $7.40 for 25 bulbs 50 for Devon, ? (ordered box of 50 in June)

(250 75-125 ) ‘Ice Follies’ (opens w/y matures to all white, size 14/16): $8.80 for 25 size 12/14 bulbs OR $7.25 for 25 larger 14/16 bulbs if we get to 250 100-150 for Devon, 25 for Catbird *(ordered 2 boxes of 75 in June)

(500 400 ) ‘Jetfire’ (mini yellow with orange cup, size 12/14): $5.25 to $6.90 for 25 bulbs 100 for Devon, ? *(ordered box of 50 in June)

*(150 0) ‘Las Vegas’ (white & yellow, trumpet, early, size 16/18), 5 for $4.55: 100 for Critter, 50+ for Devon
(150 150) ‘Las Vegas’ (white & yellow, trumpet, early, size 16/18), 5 for $4.55: 2nd bag -- order asap for this huge size!

(500 450 ) ‘Minnow’ (mini, size 12/14): $8.40 for 50 size 10+ OR $7.50 for 50 size 12/14 bulbs if we get to 500 50 for Devon, ? *(ordered box of 50 in June)

*(250 75) ‘Red Devon’ (heirloom orange & yellow, small cupped, late, size 14/16), 25 for $7.25: 50 for Critter, 100+ for Happy, 25 for Pixie, 25 for Catbird

*(75 0)‘Stainless’ (white large-cupped), 5 for $3.55: 25 for Critter, 25 for Jan, 25 for Pixie
*(75 25)‘Stainless’ (white large-cupped), 5 for $3.55: 25 for Aspen, 25+ for Devon

*(250 50) ‘Suada’ (white & orange, large cupped, early-mid, size 14/16), 25 for $7.25: 75 for Critter, 25 for Pixie, 50 for Devon, 25 for Catbird, 25 for gpmd

(75 40) ‘Tahiti (double, yellow with orange, FRAGRANT, size 12/14): $2.20 for 5 bulbs (size 12/14) if we get to 75 OR $7.25 for 25 size 12/14 bulbs if we get to 250 5? for Chantell, 5? for Terp, 10 for SSG, 15 for Catbird

(500 450 ) ‘Tete a Tete’ (mini, size 12/14): $9.75 to $12.45 for 50 bulbs 50 for Devon, ? *(ordered box of 50 in June)

(500 450 ) ‘Thalia (dainty white FRAGRANT, size 12/14): $9.95 for 25 size 12/14 bulbs OR $7.25 for 25 size 14/16 bulbs if we get to 500 50 for Devon, ? for Chantell *(ordered box of 50 in June)

TULIPS

*(150 0) Darwin hybrid ‘Gudoshnik’ ($3.50 for 10 bulbs, $8.75 for 25): 100 for Critter, 10 for Terp, 20 for Critterfriend, 20 for gpmd

*(150 50) T. Darwin hybrid ‘Red Impression’ ($8 for 25 XL bulbs!): 25 for Jan, 25 for Terp, 50+ for Devon, 25 for Critterfriend

*(50 0) T. kaufmanii ‘Heart’s Delight’ ($1.80 for 5 bulbs, $9 for 25), 25 for Critter, 25 for Aspen,
*(500 ) T. kaufmanii ‘Heart’s Delight’ ($1.80 for 5 bulbs, $9 for 25) 25 to 50 for Devon, 25 for gpmd
*(500) T. kaufmanii ‘Heart’s Delight’ ($1.80 for 5 bulbs, $9 for 25) 3rd bag of 50 for Catbird
(500) T. kaufmanii ‘Heart’s Delight’ ($1.80 for 5 bulbs, $9 for 25) 4th bag?

MISC

*(50 0) Allium christophii' ($5 for 2 bulbs, size 12+): 50for Devon
(50 40) Allium christophii '2nd bag ($5 for 2 bulbs, size 12+): 0 to 50 more for Devon. 10 for gpmd

*(50 0) Allium 'Purple Sensation' ($5.70 for 15 bulbs): 15 for SSG, 15 for Aspen, 20 for Devon
*(50 0) Allium 'Purple Sensation' ($5.70 for 15 bulbs): 2nd bag 30 morrrrrrrrrrre for Devon, 20 for Catbird
(50 0) Allium 'Purple Sensation' ($5.70 for 15 bulbs): 3rd bag

(5035) Allium schubertii (huge silvery pink, $4.85 for 5 bulbs):5 for Critter, 10 for Catbird

*(150 0) Iris reticulata 'Harmony' ($2.90 for 25 bulbs, 1st bag SOLD OUT): 25 for Critter, 50 for SSG, 25 for Jan, 25 for Aspen, 25 for Terp
*(150 0) Iris reticulata 'Harmony' ($2.90 for 25 bulbs, 2nd bag): 100+ for Devon, 25 for Donner, 25 more for Terp
(150 100) Iris reticulata 'Harmony' ($2.90 for 25 bulbs, 2nd bag): 25 more for Terp, 25 for gpmd,

*(150 0) Iris reticulata 'J. S. Dyt' ($2.90 for 25 bulbs): 25 for Critter, 25 for Aspen, 25 for Jan, 25 for Terp , 25 for Pixie, 25 for SSG
(150 125) Iris reticulata 'J. S. Dyt' 2nd bag ($2.90 for 25 bulbs): 25 for Devon

*(100 0) Leucojum 'Gravetye Giant' aka "summer snowflake" (10 bulbs for $3.50): 20 for Critter, 10 for Aspen, 50 for Devon, 10 for Donner, Aspen can take 10 more
(100 90) Leucojum 'Gravetye Giant' aka "summer snowflake" (10 bulbs for $3.50): 10 for gpmd


AMARYLLIS
Let's see if we can drum up enough interest in a particular variety to order it (they come in bags of 10).
I'm especially interested in their JUMBO bulbs -- offered at about the price we'd pay for a "regular" bulb locally, on sale, if we're lucky.

'Flamenco Queen' vivid rose-red & white with picotee edge, got a lot of attention at Philly this year ($7.20 for a JUMBO 38+cm bulb) 1 for Critter, 1 for Terp, 1 for SSG, 1 for Happy?(instead of DD)
https://www.adrbulbs.com/plantname/Amaryllis-Dutch-Flamenco-Queen

*'Double Dream' double rose-pink with perfect form, 4 flowers per stem, 3 stems per JUMBO bulb ($7.80 for one 38+cm bulb)1 for Critter, 1 for Donner, 1 for Terp, 1 for SSG, 2 for Catbird, 3 or 4 for Happy, 1 for gpmd

'Amputo' miniature white trumpet-shaped flowers, 1 for Donner,

'Misty' rose-blushed trumpet shaped flowers, one I've been wanting for years! 1 for Critter, 3 for Donner, 1 for SSG







Critter's notes to self:
N. Bahama Beach, H. Skyline, M. Blue Spike and M. Dark Eyes should be a fabulous combo at the front of a border or along a walkway... dainty and gloriously scented!

This message was edited Jun 3, 2013 12:26 AM

This message was edited Jun 4, 2013 4:36 PM

This message was edited Jul 21, 2013 9:43 PM

DAFFODILS, Descriptions & Details

https://www.adrbulbs.com/category/Wholesale-Bulk-Daffodil-Bulbs

For the “I don’t care about names, I just want a whole lot of yellow daffodils” crowd:
Amsterdam Mixture includes 6 varieties for up to 4 weeks of blooms. Box of 75 for $33.81, or 400 bulbs for $98. That’s $12.25 for 50 bulbs if there’s enough interest for the tray (< 25 cents per bulb). http://www.adrbulbs.com/plantname/Narcissi-long-lasting-Amsterdam-Mixture

‘Dutch Master’ is the “classic” tall yellow daffodil, very similar to ‘King Alfred’. Two other yellow daffs that do really well for me are ‘Carlton’ and ‘St. Keverne’. I’ll work out prices if folks are interested in any of them rather than the above mixture. If you’d rather plant a lot of daffs in different colors, there are mixtures for that also.

And a couple of specific “nominations” from me:
‘Red Devon’ (small cupped), crate of 250, 25 for $7.25: 25-50 for Critter
I’m pretty sure we “need” this one because Happy’s real name is “Devon.” With that brilliant orange, frilly little cup, these flowers look relentlessly cheerful, too, LOL. 41 cents per bulb for a box of 75 ($8.20 for 20), and if we can get to 250 bulbs they get both larger and cheaper ($7.25 for 25). http://www.adrbulbs.com/plantname/Narcissi-small-cupped-Red-Devon

‘Las Vegas’ (trumpet), crate of 150, 5 for $4.55: 100 for Critter
This one is looks like a “classic” bicolor daff -- on steroids. Huge, substantial blooms on tall stems; the kids gravitate toward the one bunch I have when picking flowers. The extra sturdy stems have been well nigh storm-proof in my garden, and it seems to have an extra long vase life as well. It’s been a slow but steady multiplier in my garden. If we get these by the crate, we can get 150 XL size (16/18+) bulbs for $135.60, or 5 bulbs for $4.55. This is a fantastic price, even more so for such a big bulb. http://www.adrbulbs.com/plantname/Narcissi-trumpet-Las-Vegas

‘Suada’ (large cupped), crate of 150. 5 for $3.85: 50 for Critter
This trumpet daffodil was prominently featured at this year’s Philly Flower Show. Its very ruffled, very orange cup was stunning against its large white petals. It’s another that we can get in an extra large size (16/1 8) by ordering quickly.

‘Stainless’ (large cupped), bag of 75. 5 for $3.55: 30 for Critter
Crisp white with a bit of cool green in the eye, pure elegance.

‘Bahama Beach’
Little bunch-flowering white daffodils. I’m picturing them with those pink/cream ‘Gudoshnik’ tulips. No guarantees, but I think their bloom times should overlap.


PINK Daffodils, anybody? These are two of my favorites, which my nieces also loved this spring, so I might “need” some more bulbs

‘Precocious’ (split corona?)
Of all the pink-cupped daffs I’ve seen, the strong, rosy shade of this one comes closest to true pink rather than peach.

‘Audobon’ (small cupped)
The delicate but distinctive pink rim around the small cup of this daffodil makes it a total charmer. It’s a great complement to ‘Precocious’, which blooms with it in my garden.

A note on fragrance… ‘Thalia’ gets all the press, but all of the double daffodils and clump-flowering daffodils are very fragrant! Butterfly daffs and small-cupped daffs also tend to be fragrant, although less powerfully. If fragrance isn’t your thing, stick with trumpet daffs and large-cupped varieties.

Butterfly Daffodils. These are the “split corona” narcissus, and they’re really special. I put some in 2 years ago, and I can’t get enough of them. I even like the peachy ones, LOL. ‘Cassata’ might be my favorite for its huge lemon-meringue petals.

Double Daffodils. ‘Tahiti’ is a standout that has multiplied nicely for me. It would be my top recommendation for anybody who doesn’t have double daffs in their garden, although a mix works pretty well for these also. The mixed doubles that I planted 2 years ago from ADR were such big bulbs that they’ve already multiplied into little clumps!

Other daffodils that are catching my eye are ‘Chromacolor’, and ‘James Town’. Which ones are jumping out at you?


This message was edited May 24, 2013 6:31 PM

TULIPS, Descriptions & Details

https://www.adrbulbs.com/category/Wholesale-Bulk-Tulip-Bulbs

Darwin hybrid ‘Gudoshnik’ ($3.50 for 10, $8.75 for 25): 50 for Critter,
This one has been really talked-up lately on the DG bulbs forum, and looking at the variable pink & cream tones, I can see why. Of the “regular tulip-looking” tulips, Darwins are the most likely to come back year after year. I want some for myself & some for my MIL. They come in boxes of 50 or 100, for about 35 cents per bulb (size 12+). http://www.adrbulbs.com/plantname/Tulipa-darwin-hybrid-Gudoshnik

T. Darwin hybrid ‘Red Impression’ ($8 for 25 XL bulbs!)

If we have big fans of RED tulips in our group, we might consider getting a crate of extra-large (14+ cm) bulbs, 300 for $96 (which is $8 for 25). If we want them, we should jump on them, because the jumbo sizes always sell out fast and red is always “big” with landscapers.

T. kaufmanii ‘Heart’s Delight’, (25 for $8.75.-9.50,or 5 for $1.75-1.90) 25 for Critter,
Delightful little bloom with pretty mottled leaves. An award-winner that always seems to sell out before the end-of-season sales (or I’d have it already). We can order it by itself in boxes of 50 or 100, http://www.adrbulbs.com/plantname/Tulipa-kaufmanniana-Hearts-Delight




This message was edited May 24, 2013 6:34 PM

ALLIUMS
Holly mentioned that she wanted alliums but didn’t say what kind. ADR has several “giant” alliums listed that price out around $2-4 each. They also have the blue-blue-blue A. azureum and a bunch of others.


MUSCARI (“grape hyacinths”)

Several people have mentioned that they want “a lot of grape hyacinths.” There are several species available, all excellent naturalizers & multipliers. They vary a bit in bloom time, so let me know if you have a preference between M. armeniacum, M. azureum, etc. I have plenty of straight-up blue ones, so I’d like to see about getting some other varieties also. I’m currently crushin’ on the doubled, almost fuzzy blooms of the ‘Blue Spike’ ones along my front walk.

Muscari ‘Blue Spike’ (150 bulbs, size 9/10), 25 for $3.35: 50 for Critter,

Muscari ‘Blue Eyes’ (150 bulbs, size 5+), 25 for $5.30: 50 for Critter,

ORIENTAL HYACINTHS


This message was edited May 24, 2013 6:35 PM

still more descriptions...

just in case!

(If I don't respond right away to questions tonight -- it's because we're celebrating Jim's birthday!)

This message was edited May 24, 2013 6:36 PM

Thank you. Hopefully I did this right

100. Muscari armeniacum please.

Daffodil
25. Bahama beach.
25 Stainless.

Tulip
25 Red impression.

Can we check Iris reticulata and Iris reticulata harmony. If so I would like 25 of each

I'm in:

Daffodil
25 Bahama Beach
15 Stainless

Tulip
25 Heart's Delight

Interested in many other things I saw on ADR's web site too. Will start listing candidates soon. I'm with Jan on any of the iris reticulate.

Thank you Jill for doing this. I would like to have

Hyacinth 'skyline' 10
Muscari 'Dark Eyes’ 50

I would like to have a few Amaryllis bulbs if you order them. I would like to have the 'Amputo' and 'Double Dream'.


This message was edited May 25, 2013 4:52 AM

Thanks, Jill!

Do you think we could add reticulated iris?
http://www.adrbulbs.com/plantname/Iris-Miniature-Reticulata-Harmony
http://www.adrbulbs.com/plantname/Iris-Miniature-Reticulata
That Harmony is gorgeous!

I'd love some purple allium, like Purple Sensation.

I *really* want some allium schubertii, but the ADR website lists the blooms as white. http://www.adrbulbs.com/plantname/Allium-Schubertii
I thought they were pink?

I'm interested in the regular Muscari armeniacum, but if we don't end up getting any more, I'll take 25 each of the Muscari on your list.

I'd like a couple amarylis bulbs as well. Do we need to order multiples of amarylis?

I need to check the delivery dates for the Amaryllis, as they may be a good bit later than the rest... if so, that could affect our decision whether or not to include them.

Sounds like Iris reticulata 'Harmony' is a "go" to add to our list. I need some Iris reticulata, too. I've grown 'J.S. Dijt' before, also, and it's a lovely intense red-violet just like the photo. They come in boxes of 150. Either 'J.S. Dijt' or 'Harmony' would be priced $2.90 for 25 bulbs, size 6+.

I remember Allium schubertii as being a pale silvery pink. I can check with Chris if there's enough interest in them (I don't want to bombard him with more questions than necessary), just to make sure, but I bet it's just one of those subjective color things.

SSG, how many "regular" Muscari armeniacum would you want? Just give me an idea... "at least 50, no more than 200?" They are little, so it takes a good many to make a "drift" of color, although they do multiply when they're happy. Buying 250 at a time would give us pricing of 50 for $6.20. Buying a tray of 1000 would be $5.25 for 50 (same size). I'll add a bag of 250 to our list to start with, because Jan wanted them also, but if you want a bunch, I bet we could get them at the better bulk price.

I'm double checking prices elsewhere, too... but let me know if you find better deals or note that a particular variety seems to be priced higher than you think it "should" be. As with the lilies, I'll add things to our actual order as we "fill" bags/boxes... you will know your requests have made it to the ordering stage when you see an asterisk in front.

More on the amaryllis... yes, we do have to buy them in multiples. Mostly it's bags of 10, but there are some "retail assortment" packages also. For example, we can get jumbo amaryllis bulbs in sets of 8 of one variety plus 8 of another variety (limited varieties), and they work out to $8.71 each, for 38+ cm bulbs.

Aha! I just checked on 'Flamenco Queen', which is on my wish list... 10 jumbo bulbs (38+) for $7.20 per bulb!

'Double Dream' is beautiful, too. $7.85 for a jumbo bulb. And the 'Amputo' that SSG mentioned is a miniature variety, $5.60/bulb.

I'm going to put amaryllises on their own post above. We can decide if we want to do them or not when I find out more... or we might even get them delivered later than everything else (in which case we'd just have to have another party, and wouldn't that be a shame? LOL).

This message was edited May 24, 2013 11:17 PM

Has anybody grown Ranunculus? They're sold out of rose & purple, but they have the other single colors or the mix, all in bags of 250, 25 bulbs for $3.40.

Another "different" bulb to put on our radar might be Leucojum 'Gravetye Giant' ("summer snowflake"). 10 bulbs for $3.50, and they have that same pure white with a touch of green as Daffodil 'Stainless' (in fact, they may bloom at about the same time).

Saved...because I NEED more plants...mercy

I'd be thrilled with any of the following:

Narcissi butterfly 'Cassata'
Narcissi butterfly 'Cum Laude'
Narcissi bunch flowering "Cheerfulness"
Narcissi bunch flowering 'Bridal Crown'
Narcissi miniature 'Thalia'
Tulipa single early 'Hermitage
Tulipa single early 'Princess Irene'
Tulipa single early 'Strawberry Ice'
Tulipa single early 'Royal Mixture'

Interesting Daffy article http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Flowers/Bulbs/daffodil.htm

This message was edited May 25, 2013 12:59 AM

Jill, I'd like 100 Muscari armeniacum.
(Jan, are you also ordering the standard Muscari armeniacum, not the cultivars?)

10 Allium Schubertii, if we get them.

50 Reticulated iris "Harmony"

15 Allium Purple Sensation (if we end up ordering them)



This message was edited May 25, 2013 6:21 AM

Saved this spot. I would definitely be in for some tulips, daffs, and others. I will look into it more later this weekend! Woohoo!

Pink daffs! Yes.

Yes, SS, the regular M. Armeniacum. I want 100

I know there are going to be a LOT of nominations for different varieties. If you think there's been enough interest in one of your favorites, and I've missed getting it on the list, please let me know. Remember you can use your browser's "find" function to look for mention of a particular bulb (and to see if I've given you the price). I don't want to put things on our list that only have one "vote," because it would get insanely long.

Thanks for considering my initial "picks," too! :-D

Allium schubertii will be about $1 per bulb, and we need to order 50. Allium 'Purple Sensation' would be $5.70 for 15 bulbs (in a bag of 50).





This message was edited May 25, 2013 4:35 PM

Adding:
25 Iris reticulata 'Harmony'
50 Muscari armeniacum

Interested in the following that have been mentioned if they get added to the list:
Leucojum 'Gravetye Giant'
Allium 'Purple Sensation'

Interested in the following that have not been mentioned yet:
Muscari latifolium
Fritillaria meleagris mixture
Iris miniature 'J.S. Dyt'
Tulip viridiflora 'China Town'
Tulip darwin hybrid 'Ollioules'
Tulip lily flowering 'Burgundy'

Jan, are you interested in Iris reticulata (miniature?) 'J.S. Dyt' ?

Aspen, I put you down for 15 Purple Sensation Allium... we might adjust these numbers down the road, just as we did with the lilies, when we were a little over one bag but not by enough to order a second bag.

I'm going to go ahead and add the Leucojum, see if we can "sell out" a bag of 50. Aspen, I'll put you down for 10, LMK if you want more. :-)

SSG, Chris says the Allium schubertii are indeed more of a light pink. In their fields, they grow to about 18" with "gigantic" blooms (8-10 inches across, as I recall), so I don't know why the ones I had grew on such short stems!

Amaryllis UPDATE: Chris says they usually get their amaryllis in time to start shipping them the first week in October. So I think it's completely reasonable to include amaryllises with our order, then schedule shipping for the 2nd week in October (just to give a margin for late arrival at ADR). If we have our gathering later, we will delay shipping to me accordingly, so the bulbs stay nice & fresh.

If we didn't include the amaryllises, then we could get our bulbs shipped to me after September 1... but for me, anyway, I'm not ready to start planting fall bulbs until October anyway, because I'm busy with all the other garden stuff, including getting things together for the fall swap. :-)

Harvest Party and Bulb Sorting Event -- mark your calendar! Currently, I think the best date to get together looks like Saturday, October 12. We could push it later and try to get in a late season sale order or two elsewhere, but I'm guessing we're going to have our hands full without doing that. If we use additional vendors, it'll be to get pink daffodils or something we want that ADR doesn't have, and we'll just pay the price and get whatever quantity discount is available.

van Engelen is having a special (through May 31) on a few items where we can buy in units of 100 bulbs at the 1000-bulb bulk pricing.

Hyacinthoides hispanica 'Excelsior', very pretty & vigorous heirloom, 25 bulbs for $6.55 with shipping
http://www.vanengelen.com/flower-bulbs-index/website-specials/ws-hyacinthoides-hispanica-excelsior.html

The Ravishing All Pink Narcissus Mixture, 25 bulbs for $15 with shipping. I'm not usually a huge "mixture" fan, but this looks like a nice one.
http://www.vanengelen.com/flower-bulbs-index/website-specials/ws-narcissus-all-pink-mixture.html

Also, Brent & Becky's has an early order discount that pretty much offsets shipping charges, so we might look there for a couple of "special" bulbs, like pink daffodils. Their selection of daffs is unbeatable. I imagine we could "sell out" a bag of 25 of nearly anything, although that may still mean $1 per bulb or a little more (beats the per-5 bulb price, though!).

For example, 'Precocious', which I think is one of the very best pink daffodils, would be either $6 or $6.65 for 5 bulbs.

And, if there's anything in particular that you're looking for, especially if you want quite a few, let me know and we'll ask Bleek at Touch of Nature if he can get them for us and at what price.

Um... a few more prices from B&B, because I know I'd get some of these if others wanted them also...

N. 'Solar Wind' (double white & sunny yellow) $7.45 for 5 bulbs, https://store.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/spring/productview/?sku=01-0443

N. 'Thalia Sun' (white with a sunny center) $5.70 for 5 bulbs, https://store.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/spring/productview/?sku=01-0512

N. 'Wave' (another stunning white & yellow double), $7.45 for 5 bulbs, https://store.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/spring/productview/?sku=01-0436

N. 'Extravaganza' (gorgeous white and coral double), $6.10 for 3 bulbs, https://store.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/spring/productview/?sku=01-0431

Yes on the J'S DYT. I. Reticulata

I am not looking at any more...I am not looking at any more...I am no... Oh, who am I kidding? Of course I am looking at more.

A couple more prices...

N. 'Smiling Twin' (collar or "butterfly" daff, white & yellow, one of B&B's own seedlings): $3.65 for 5 bulbs https://store.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/spring/productview/?sku=01-1123

and back to ADR for two fragrant butterfly daffs with huge split cups... in my garden, they looked almost like orchids

N. 'Cum Laude' (white with peach-PINK butterfly corona): $5.60 for 10 bulbs

N. 'Cassatta' (white with light lemon-yellow butterfly corona): $4.25 for 10 bulbs

oh, and just a comment on one that Chantell liked. Tulip 'Princess Irene' is one I put in for a neighbor, 9 or 10 years ago, and it is still there! It's along the front walk, where it is probably baking-dry in summer. The color is orange sherbet with dusky purple flames.

uh oh, Jill, you said PEACH...
Tulip "Princess Irene' is tempting me-
NOTE that 'baking dry in summer' is very good for tulips and that may not happen when tulips are planted where annuals need to be watered all summer.

This message was edited May 26, 2013 8:58 AM

Thanks for adding that note, Sally! I do think that's why tulips do so well there... the edges of my walks do pretty well too, but there's nobody watering the other walkway bed regularly, and that helps the tulips!

Saving our space, you know I can't resist.

Ric, Terp, and anybody else who mentioned "saving a space" on this thread... I appreciate your letting me know you're "in," but please DO NOT EDIT YOUR ORDER POSTS. I'm updating my records as we go along, so if anybody goes back and edits their posts to make additions or changes to their order, it will tangle things up like you wouldn't believe.

Please, everybody, take the time to read the first 2 posts on this thread, even if you think it's "obvious" how I'm doing things. The 3rd post has our "availability" list of bulbs ordered or being considered for ordering. The next couple of posts you can skip over, unless you want to read about the varieties I thought were particularly worth nominating to kick off this thread.

Jill, of course. Thank you for clarifying that. I haven't had time to sit down and process everything. I wanted to state that I was interested and wanted to be included. Can't wait for fall...

Happy Memorial Day all.

Sorry, Terp, didn't really mean to yell... somebody Dmailed me asking to clarify that, and I had visions of what would happen if y'all went back and started rearranging your previous posts! :-)

Happy Memorial Day. I'm grateful for all the work and sacrifice that underlies and protects our freedom!

Ok.

HYACINTH (oriental) ‘Skyline 5 - $2.50

Muscari ‘Dark Eyes – 25 $5.30
Darwin hybrid ‘Gudoshnik’ – 10 $3.50
T. Darwin hybrid ‘Red Impression’ – 25 $8
Iris reticulata 'Harmony' 25 - $2.90
Iris reticulata 'J. S. Dyt' 25 - $2.90
Amaryllis 'Double Dream' and ‘Flamenco Queen’ 1 of each $7.20 and $7.80.

Nominate Iris reticulate Katharine Hodgkin
and Tulipa triumph 'Miami Mixture'


Come on people!!!

Terp, have you seen Katharine Hodgkin in person? It really is lovely... but the grey-blue tone would completely blend in with my non-dyed mulch, and they would disappear in my garden. Just something to keep in mind... they'd be beautiful in containers, though, or for forcing, or in a rock garden...

RED TULIPS I'd really like to order the 'Red Impression' asap, if we get them, because I know the XL size will sell out early. So far, two people have spoken for 25 each. If we get to 100 sold, I'll order them...

I'll contact Chris in a couple days with additions to our order. So far, I'll be adding:
50 Leucojum 'Gravetye Giant', (20 still available, but I can add a few to my order if need be, so they're a go)
150 Iris reticulata Harmony (go ahead with any additional orders; we can add a second bag later)
150 Iris reticulata J. S. Dyt (50 still available, but I think they'll go)

I'm holding off on ordering the M. armeniacum, because I think we can get to 1000 of those for the next price break (250 ordered so far), and I don't think they're in danger of selling out

Jill. I have not seen the Katherine in person so I don't know. I would place all of the iris together so it would stand out though.

What about Miami mixture?

Tulip 'Miami Mixture" is $31 for 100 bulbs, $16 for 50, size 12+

Terp, if you want 50 or 100, I'll go ahead and order that mix for you... you can even say, "I'd like 25, but I'd take up to 50" and I'll order the bag of 50 and see if anybody wants up to 25 of them. Otherwise, it's on "hold" until I know we can sell a whole bag of it among ourselves.

We've had some interest but no definite orders (with numbers) on N. 'Cum Laude', (white with peach-PINK butterfly corona): $5.60 for 10 bulbs
It comes in a bag of 75... if we get to 50, I'll add it to our order and figure others will want the other 25.

Allium 'Purple Sensation' -- we've sold 30 out of the bag, 20 to go... close enough to order it? I'm waffling. :-)

I already moved a bunch of sedum out of the sedum/semps bed to make room for the baby iris!

Jill, I'd like to add 25 Iris Dyt.

Jill--

Here is my measly interest....

I would like 6-8 Allium bulbs--either "giant Giganteum" or giant "Globemaster".

I like the Alliums that are in a tight, round ball. the "Sensation" seems more loose.....

Just expressing my interest. If it does nor work out-I will buy a bag of them at Wallmart...

Gita

I think I've heard others mention wanting some of the really giant Alliums. ADR has several “giant” alliums listed that price out around $2-4 each. I don't know the WalMart price per bulb... but I do know that the bare root plants I bought on the spur of the moment this spring at Costco weren't even 1/4 of the ADR divisions we got, and I bet I paid more for them. :-)

What is anybody else's experience with the big alliums perennializing? I put in a clump of 'Globemaster' (I think) 2 years ago, and this spring I had only 2 blooms. They may have been in a bad spot, as the lady's mantle I planted them with didn't come back this spring either.

Jill, all 3 of my Globemasters came back this year. They bloom a bit later than Purple Sensation, and the blooms are bigger than PS, but not by much. The bulbs are huge, though!