Group buy FALL bulbs Phase II

NOt sure how my day will play out but pretty sure I can get over there for a couple hours, early to mid afternoon sounds fine. I have more big yellow daffs than I know what to do with already lol.

No biggie on the yellow daffs I mentioned above... I started adding up how many I've already got to plant this year and trying to remember that my left arm is acting up LOL... Even half that bag might be too many!

I know even with people bringing bags (net bags, paper grocery bags, all good... no plastic please), there will be costs associated with the packing effort. To distribute the costs fairly, how about if everybody chips in $1 plus 1/2 percent of their total? (If you ordered $100 worth of bulbs, that's $1.50.) That will provide about $20 to pay for labels, ink, tape, etc.

If we still have leftover bulbs in a week, they will also be figured into your invoices as a percent of your total. That's the most fair way I can think of to deal with them. Right now, I think our leftovers are about 4.5% of our total ADR purchase. That means that if we don't sell off any of them, then I'll donate them somewhere like the YMCA, and everybody's invoices will include $1 plus 4 percent of your total. (eg, if you ordered $100 worth of bulbs, that's $5). I know I didn't mention this up front, so if you have a problem with it, LMK.

OK, let's update our "still available" list, with prices. If you're not sure how many of something you already have -- just ask. I'll try to get invoices out soon, but meanwhile, just ask. On some (Jetfire, for example), there are extras because we jumped to a bulk bag for big savings.

People in our group have first "dibs" on these, today only. To avoid confusion and double-ordering, let's take turns "shopping them around" to friends & neighbors & coworkers. Who wants to sign up for passing the list around on Monday??


STILL AVAILABLE

1 Amaryllis 'Flamenco Queen' $7.20

10 Allium schubertii, 5 for $4.84

50 Iris reticulata 'Harmony', 25 for $2.89

10 N. 'February Gold', 5 for $2.16

25 N. 'Ice Follies' for $6.25

100 N. 'Jetfire', 25 for $5.25

25 N. 'Las Vegas' JUMBO bulbs, 5 for $4.52

25 N. Martinette, for $6.55, or 5 for $1.33

25 N. Tahiti for $7.25, or 5 for $1.45


Or, if you want an "easy pricing" list to print out for family/friends, here it is:

1 Amaryllis 'Flamenco Queen' $7.20
Stunning red & white blooms, a Philly Flower Show favorite

10 Allium schubertii, 1 for $1
Enormous silvery-purple blooms look like an explosion of stars

50 Iris reticulata 'Harmony', 8 for $1
Miniature early bloomers, blue-violet with yellow throat

25 Muscari 'Dark Eyes', 5 for $1
Dark-centered blooms make it stand out from ordinary grape hyacinths

10 N. 'February Gold', 3 for $1
Super-early bloomer

25 N. 'Ice Follies', 4 for $1
Bicolor maturing to white, an old favorite!

100 N. 'Jetfire', 5 for $1
tiny daffs with wind-swept yellow petals, orange centers

25 N. 'Las Vegas' JUMBO bulbs, $1 each
Bicolor daffs “on steroids,” tall enormous blooms, last 2x long in vase

25 N. Martinette, 3 for $1
Bouquet on every stem, fragrant little yellow daffs with orange centers

25 N. Tahiti, 3 for $1
Remarkable fragrant double daff, like a yellow peony with dashes of orange














This message was edited Sep 29, 2013 11:00 AM

Sounds like we have several people needing to leave by 4, so we need to shoot for getting the packing done by 3:30, giving people time to check their orders before they go.

Jill, if they are available I will take

10 - Feb Gold ($4.32)
25-50 - Jet Fire ($5.25 - $ 10.50)
25 - Ice Follies ($6.25)
25 - Martinette ($6.55)
25 - Tahiti ($7.25)
5 - Las Vegas ($4.52)
5 - Allium schubertii ($4.84)
25 - Iris reticulata 'Harmony' ($2.89)

I'd also like 50 - 100 of the Dutch Master if that is the selection for your in-laws. ($12.50 - $25.00)

Thanks, Judy

This message was edited Sep 29, 2013 7:37 AM

Thanks so much, Critter--the cost to cover supplies sounds fine to me. I'd also be happy to take a few of the Dutch master bulbs.

5 Allium schubertii, ($4.84)
25 Iris reticulata 'Harmony', ($2.89)
5 - Las Vegas ($4.52)

Judy, if you don't mind sharing the Martinette, I'd be happy to take half. I'll also take 25 of the Dutch Master and 25 of the California for your inlaws (that's $12.50 for both).

I've lost track of whether all my original choices made the cut. I suppose that will show on the final spreadsheet- do not need to know now.

Donner, will you be there? I still have your ajuga waiting for you! If you'll be there, I'll pot it up for you. Here it is:

whups, posted without checking for updates... got distracted by bath/bedtime routine last night! I'll re-edit the list above. Sally, I'll see what you have coming, too.

Thanks so much for jumping in on the Dutch Master! I'll email Chris & call him first thing in the morning, to make sure they go out with our pallet.

OMG, I have a PALLET of bulbs being delivered! ROFL

Man, you guys are just the BEST people to work with on a group buy. I think one of the reasons I don't "do" mail order with these (besides the sheer scope of things) is that this way I'm just dealing with the local folks I've come to know & love!

CatMint, I'm not going to order both types of yellow daffs -- let's go with Dutch Master. That's the closest commercially-available variety replacing the old King Alfreds that my FIL remembers so fondly. Do you want 50 Dutch Master, or 25?

OK... new totals coming up...

Catmint you already have 25 I. ret. 'Harmony' ordered... do you want 25 more for a total of 50? (They're little bulbs, easy to plant!) Similarly, your new total of Allium schubertii would now be 15 bulbs. Just checking!

I split the Martinette, 15 for Coleup, 10 for CatMint... Coleup, LMK if that's not cool with you.

Sally, you are currently picking up 10 N. 'Capree Elizabeth' from B&B. Are you sure there's nothing on the list below that "speaks" to you? ;-)

UPDATED AVAILABILITY LIST

1 Amaryllis 'Flamenco'

25 Iris ret. 'Harmony' (found a few more LOL)

50 N. 'Jetfire'

10 N. 'Las Vegas' JUMBO

10 N. 'Tahiti'

50 N. 'Dutch Master' (I took 100 for my FIL, 25 for DH Jim)

... and we're down to $45 worth of leftovers, 2 1/4 % of the total. You guys ROCK!

Let me see if I can find a photo of 'Flamenco' for you... It's got a thin red picotee edge that sets off the vibrant color even more. I love picotee edges. :-) Big bloom, too, with great "substance" (thick petals).

So, what do we need to bring with us? You mentioned bags. How many?

Looking forward.

THanks for the update

I have plenty of paper lunch bags (those of you in the lily swap will remember them), but some of the larger quantities of big bulbs would be easier to sort into grocery bags. Bring 'em if you got 'em... if you have a stack of paper grocery bags handy, please throw them into your car. It's not a big deal, because we can use multiple little bags and combine them into a plastic grocery sack if need be (I just don't want to tie any bulb up in plastic).

CatMint, PLMK if you wanted 50 of the Dutch Master yellow daffs... right now, you are down for 25. (We're not ordering 'California'.)

Hi Jill. 25 of the dutch master is fine. Thanks!

OK!

My neighbor Martina has "the list" tonight and will let me know tomorrow what she wants. :-)

My wonderful sweet coworker has just asked if I can work Saturday the 12th for her...
8 ^P

Sally, I hope you said no!!! :-o

My brother is coming to town from California with wife and my 19yo nephew. All my kids will be here, unless the oldest has to work. So my daughter could take him to Annapolis, or the big mall, or something. I think coming to Jills for the afternoon may be OK but I feel bad if I were to go to work 9 to 5 the day he is with us all day, while the parents go to a wedding.
Love to see him but feeling conflicted and unsure how to handle the days plans.

well, if it were me I think I'd give my very sincere regrets to the coworker, and I'm sure your nephew would have more fun with young people closer to his age!

Jill, always happy to 'share and adjust'!

Was hoping Catmint might trade a few Geranium for those Martinettes! I'd be interested in some Actea. too 10 or so?

And if the 25 muscari Dark Eyes are still available I'll take those, too.

Kilo bulbers of the world unite!

Thanks

Coleup, you've got the 25 'Dark Eyes'. Are you interested in 15 'Bahama Beach' daffs? I added them to my column but don't really need them (I have the 50 I wanted).

Hi, Coleup. Okay, I'll trade you 'my' Martinette for some of your Geranium! :-)

Oops Catmint. Jill split off 10 of the Martinette I requested for you. What I was wondering is if you would split off 10 of your Geranium in return? That way we would both have some of each. No biggy if you want all your Geranium.

Great on the Dark Eyes!

Jill, I will pass on the Bahama Beach . I find early season to be best for my growing conditions with so little sun once the trees leaf out, but maybe someone else will speak up for them.

OMG Jill, a pallet! When will the bulbs arrive?

If Martina wants any of my last minute order I could share with her, too!

Coleup, I'm happy to help! Jill, am I still down for 'Geranium'? I just noticed it was not on the list you dmailed me a while back, but this could just have been an oversight.

Catmint, let me check... I think I have you down for 25 Geranium, changing it to 15 and sliding 10 of them to Coleup. I also have you down for 25 'Ice Follies'. I think both were added after I sent you that summary.

Coleup, FYI, 'Geranium' blooms late in the daffodil season. I like them planted in the same area as 'Ice Follies' for early bloom (or 'Cheerfulness' if you want an early Tazetta class daff... just so there's no confusion, we're not getting Cheerfulness this year).

Umm... unless people would like to add it, that is... they do have 'Yellow Cheerfulness' (fragrant and a good multiplier) in boxes of 50 size 12/14 for $14.50. (It would be $2 less per 50 if we bought 250, but I don't see that happening as an 11th hour add-on)

LMK about 'Yellow Cheerfulness' by tomorrow morning, please. They're shipping our 'Dutch Master' out separately and could throw something else in with it. Any others been nagging at your mind? ;-)

thanks, Critter--sounds great! Yes, I think I am also down for some Ice Follies!

The Yellow Cheerfulness is lovely. I'd be happy to take a small number, if others are also interested.

I feel like I'm going to need advice on what to plant in front of what given height and bloom times and so on!

Jill, I thought I'd written a reply this morning, but it seems to have disappeared.

Anyway, I'd written to ask if Martina had chosen her bulbs. If Tahiti is still available, I'd like to take the remaining 10.

And the remaining Flamenco.

(But only if Martina doesn't want them!)

THE BULBS ARE HERE!

Those I can see before unloading the pallet look GREAT, lots of double and triple nose bulbs (eg, they've already started multiplying), nice & plump & firm. I'll be checking over the ones that were delivered early (they weren't picked up again, and after a week or two that became a moot point), but they stayed in the living room with A/C on hot days, should be fine.

***

Thanks, SSG! I'll check with her.

I didn't hear a resounding chorus of "Oh yes, let's order lots of 'Yellow Cheerfulness'," so we'll skip that one I think. We have to save something for next time, after all! (Let me say now that I'm not doing this every year! LOL)

Pictures for the record !!!!

Heehee. I do appreciate your efforts on our behalf.

I will need directions and contact info. Please

Jan, are you coming to Naptown on your way to or from Jill's?

Happy, would you be amenable to sharing 25 actea daffs with me?

Jill, I'll pass on those Geranium daffs from Catmint. Thanks for the heads up on early/late timing.

Are some of the bulbs already in 'bags of 25'? (Just remembering how l o n g it took me to pick out 50 each of two varieties from the barrels of loose bulk bulbs!) (And those big fat double and triple ones are heavy! lol )

How's that pallet doing? Got a tarp in case it ever rains again? Hope you and Sunshine Girl are having fun anticipating all those lovelies.

I'd love to know more about the early/late timing thing! Of the daffs we're getting, which one would be considered early and which late? Just need to plan how I'm going to plant them all! :-o

Coleup -- I think I am down for 175 Actaea -- if that is the case, I'm happy to transfer 25 from my pile to yours. I do think it is going to be hard for Jill to keep track of all these late changes, though....

Thanks Happy. So. if you are willin I'll just get 25 actea directly from you at the Sort and pay you directly for them on the 12th. That way Jill won't have to be involved at all!

Coleup, I'll transfer those 25 Actea, no problem, and I'll un-transfer the Geranium.

Once invoices go out (hopefully Monday or earlier), changes will be harder, but it's probably still easier for me to track things on the master list than to start making deals on the side. :-)

One of the best daffodil info resources I know is Brent & Becky's. They classify daffs as early, mid, or late season (all within the spring season for daffodil blooms... mostly after Crocus and before Bearded Iris). They also have all their daffodils by class, which helps when you're looking for fragrance for example... the double, tazetta, and split-corona daffs are pretty much all quite fragrant, as far as I know... trumpet daffs, not fragrant in my experience.

Coleup, the majority of our bulbs are in bags of 250, some in boxes of 75 and so forth. We'll just do them one variety at a time (and have 2 or 3 sorting tables in operation)... open bag, look at labels, sort into piles, pack & label each pile (labels say something like "N. Solar Wind / 5 for Critter").

For the most part, we stuck with multiples of 25 when we had bags of 250. That will help. With the huge savings on these wholesale prices, I'm going to assume nobody will get crispy if they are a bulb short... Actually, we'll probably have some "bonus" smaller bulbs in each bag because some of the double nose bulbs separate during shipping. We'll divide up each bag as evenly as we can. :-)

I'll try to get a start on it this week, at least get the non-daffs taken care of... but I've got an issue with my left hand (lymphedema flare), so won't be as quick as I'd like.

In case the above wasn't clear, we'll be using the labels I've made to package each variety. That way, we'll know right away if there are any problems with bulb counts.

After all the bulbs are repackaged, we will go through and pull everybody's order from the piles.

So you won't be taking your order sheet and making your way from one big bag of loose bulbs to the next... that would invite all kinds of confusion. :-)

The bulbs are all safe in the garage... It's not getting hot in there until pretty late in the day, and I've got mousetraps set. I'm parking on the driveway!

Sounds like a good plan Jill!

Eek, I forgot about rodent patrol!

thanks, Critter--I'll take a closer look at the B&B site for info about bloom times!

Coleup--you know I would have been very happy to give you those 'Geraniums'-- I hope you didn't decide against them on my account??