Anyone up for a fall bulb co-op?

I should clarify - I mean fall-blooming bulbs (e.g., Autumn Crocus, Colchicums...)

Now *is* about the right time to be ordering, right? (If not, somebody stop me now!)

Nooooo, I'm not volunteering to organize one (especially not if I'm going to do a shrub/tree one this fall), but I thought if anyone was doing one, I'd be mighty interested in some fall bloomers ;o)

I'm anxious to get involved in a fall bulb co-op too. I have no time to organize one but love those who take the time and effort to all of us.


kathy

im going to wait and see what eflowergarden list for their fall bulb sale! I had a wonderful spring garden this year! :)

Yes, Id be in for a few... The co-op board is lonely...
And I know nothing about them.
Abigail

I might be interested in some saffron.

naturepatch

I've also intended to try some saffron crocus for a long time...

Saffron crocus are the absolute most stunning looking flowers! I only wish the few I have were in a spot where I didn't keep loosing them. :( Hence, my wanting more.

naturepatch

Gosh I would probably order too.. I just cant say no when I see a co-op going on.

hmmmmm FALL blooming-well thats a different story! id be interested!!! :)

I tried to do a search in FAQs but couldn't come up with anything explaining what is a co-op and how to do it. Can someone explains to me, please?

Do we all buy together or we buy more and then trade?

drop, a co-op is a group purchase, with one main difference: since we may live across the country from one another, the person who organizes it has to be prepared to re-package and ship all the plants/seeds/bulbs when they arrive.

The cost of the double shipping (from wholesaler to organizer and from organizer to participants) has to be factored into the total price to ensure we aren't spending more than what we would if we simply purchased individually at retail prices. Here's a link to a primer that we put together last year: http://davesgarden.com/coop_primer/

Thank you, Terry! So much to learn.

This seems fun. I could try saffron crocus. Can I really harvest them?

BTW, I had placed an order on some interesting crocus that bloom in the Fall.
http://brecks.com/product.asp?pn=65182
I can't wait to get them.

Oh, please count me in. I would love some of the fall crocus and more of the colchiums.

Can't do a coop, as health isn't great!!

Maxine

I've been looking at crocus varieties and colchiums. I ended up ordering from Blooming Bulb a ton of early spring crocus and a few lily bulbs. They are having a sale until 7/31/04. Decent prices if you're getting things in 25 or 50-count.

I'd be interested in a fall blooming bulb coop if colchium were included.

I would love to participate in this! I have never done this before, but I love colichicums and was going to order some. I would much rather do this if someone decides to do a co-op.
charla

I would I wanted to join cause of the co op and I haven't seen one I wanted to do yet...

ely

I am in, and I need lots. Anyone know of a good website that shows fall blooming bulbs?
Who would we be buying them from ?

Ummm, ely are you offering to do it? (hoping against hope...)

Well, I'm getting antsy, so I went ahead and located some possible sources:

Bloms Bulbs: http://www.blomsbulbs.com/catalog/flowers.cfm?subTypeId=97
Bulbmeister: http://www.bulbmeister.com/flowershop/fso2004/index.html
Messelaar Bulbs: http://www.tulipbulbs.com/cgi-bin/prodlist.cgi?a=list&list=cff
Odyssey Bulbs: http://www.odysseybulbs.com/colchicum.html
Park's Bulbs: http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?mainPage=advsearchresults&langId=-1&storeId=10101&catalogId=10066&SearchText=p16.v223;p24.v270
Van Dyck's: http://www.vandycks.com/fall/y33197.1.phtml
White Flower Farm: http://search.whiteflowerfarm.com/cgi-local/search.pl?text=colchicum&dosearch.x=0&dosearch.y=0&dosearch=Go

Out of these, Bulbmeister probably has the largest assortment of Crocus and Colchicums (it's positively staggering!) Odyssey Bulbs is no slouch either.

I did a price comparison of these companies, using Colchicum 'Waterlily' since they all carry it:

Bloms Bulbs - $5.20 or 3/$14.60
Bulbmeister $5.95 (less 25% discount for orders over $150)
Messelaar - $3.50, 5/$15 or 10/$27.50
Odyssey Bulbs - $6.50, 5/$29 ($5.80 ea.) or 10/$46 ($4.60 ea.)
Park's - $4.95 (regularly $6.95)
Van Dyck's $6.95 or 3/$19.50 ($6.50 each)
White Flower Farm 3/$15.75, 12/$59.25, 24/$110.75 ($4.61 ea.)

Anyone have any other suggested sources? I'm all ears!!!

Okay, maybe $3-$7 for a single bulb has scared off some folks? (If it made you lose your breath, then don't look at the rest of Bulbmeister and Odyssey's offerings - some go for as much as $30+!!!)

But the good news is that most of the autumn Crocus are typically much less expensive - most varieties are available in sets of 10 for the price of one Colchicum 'Waterlily'

(Of course the Colchicums have the advantage of being toxic, so they're more likely to be there next year and the year after....)

C'mon, guys - whatcha waiting for? Thumbs up or thumbs down on a co-op? If it's a no-go, I notice that Odyssey Bulbs has a "Six Colchicums for $22" offer, which may be as good or better than anything we can do as a group purchase.

bulbmiester has a great selection, i wonder if they would do better on the 25% off if we buy alot. i like the Colchium boissieri.. sigh. when am i going to win the lottery.

Count me in. I need lots of fall blooming bulbs.

I definitely want to participate in this!! I hope we can do it!
Charla

I would like to participate but not host it... I am far to busy..

ely

Hmmmm. Bulbmeister has a wholesale list (I accidentally wound up looking at their retail list.) Check this out:

Colchicums: http://www.bulbmeister.com/flowershop/fwl2004/page04.html#CHIONODOXA
Autumn Crocus:
http://www.bulbmeister.com/flowershop/fwl2004/page05.html

If I do this (and it's still an "if"), there are some restrictions we need to agree to:

1) we'd have to purchase $500 worth to get these prices (I'm hoping they'll also do free shipping to me, as they would for a retail order of $500+, but I'll need to check.)

2) we'd have to meet the minimum quantities per bulb to get these prices, and I'm guessing that means multiples, not minimum. (So for example, if we want Crocus kotschyanus ssp. k. var. leucopharynx, the minimum is 125. I don't think we can order 150 - we'd have to order 125 or 250 or 375, etc.

3) for my sanity and to make the repackaging go as quickly as possible, I'll need to either limit the number of participants (probably around 15-20 people) and/or limit the number of different bulbs we order (also probably 15-20 different ones.)

Sooooo, if y'all are still in I'll fill out the application over in the Co-op forum and check with Bulbmeister on terms and conditions.

I still want in but I will be out of town til July 4rd and may not have access to a computer up in the cabin in the Colorado wilds but will try to get to a town and check at least once during the week just in case you get it up and running so save me a spot and I will be very flexible regarding what I get and will do whatever I can to fill out where we need to get certain numbers of bulbs.

Count me in in in in!

these are positively beautiful. i am trying to figure out how well they do in georgias climate (7b). they will not like the clay soil, then again not much does! question is, do they tolerate humidity, anyone know?

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/fourh/fbasp/Colchau.htm

this site is loaded with pics, not all that bulbmiester has listed, but a good many

colchicum
http://shop.rareplants.co.uk/prodtype.asp?PT_ID=88&numRecordPosition=1&strPageHistory=&strKeywords=&strSearchCriteria=

crocus
http://shop.rareplants.co.uk/prodtype.asp?PT_ID=70&strPageHistory=cat

This message was edited Jun 25, 2004 11:29 AM

This message was edited Jun 25, 2004 11:39 AM

I think it would be wonderful!

Have you contacted them, and asked them about their wholesale prices to the trade only? We have a large enough group, many of them; (ie. Buddy's Caladium Farm), will offer a much greater savings as long as a certain large volume quanity is met.


"eyes"

eyes, I have been in contact with them; unless I'm misunderstanding Kelly (the owner), the retail list prices ( 25% discount for an order of $125 or more, and free shipping/handling if it's more than $500) will apply. That roughly equates (within a few cents) to their wholesale prices, and gives us one leg of the shipping for free. Not a bad deal, compared to individual orders at full price, plus shipping/handling of 20% or thereabouts, or wholesale prices, but shipping/handling would apply.

For example:

Retail, Colchicum 'Waterlily' is $5.95, less 25% = $4.46
Wholesale, it's $3.77, plus 20% shipping/handling, or $4.52

By using the retail list, we don't have to meet minimums and we *should* get free shipping/handling, assuming the order is at least $500. (Confused yet???? *grin*)

BTW, I think Dave approved my co-op application, so check the co-op forum tomorrow for the "official" start ;o)

Have to go a lot further than that to confuse an old Internal Auditor...........hee, hee. Check ya out in the CoOp Forum.

"eyes"

I'm in! I'm in! I'm in!! (I hope.) lol

Does anyone know how long do these bulbs bloom? I sure hope its a couple of weeks each at least. My poor little crocuses, as much as I love them, only bloom about a week each. :-(

This message was edited Jun 25, 2004 3:03 PM

I'm in too, I have to get my l5.00 worth before I have to re subscribe LOL,

kathy

id like to be included too!

im in!!!!

cindy