I got John Scheepers catalogue and really love an orienpet lily named Lavon. Has anyone bought lily bulbs from Scheepers and what luck have you had? Has anyone raised Lavon? I'd love to know your experience.
John Scheepers and Orienpet lily Lavon
I have never ordered lilies from them but I have ordered hundreds of other bulbs. Alliums (including unusual ones like karataviense), tulips, chionodoxa, and so on. I often order a few bulbs from premium companies (read expensive) and then get some from Scheepers to compare. I am unable to tell the difference. Their bulbs are as good as those from "premium" companies. I found it surprising but they appear to get their bulbs from Holland, and those guys are bulb specialists.. I really like to support domestic and local growers but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do. For example, there are peonies I can't get in this country, so it's Canada or Europe (Cornelia Shaylor). Forced to order twice from Canada, I have discovered that, for whatever reason, their peonies are far superior to domestic ones, jumping out of the ground the season after planting with multiple flowers and being true to type.
I know that SteveFortWorth/SteveGreenville used to order peonies and lilies from Scheepers and said that they were great. And he was discerning.
I wish I could give you direct experience, but I thought that this would be helpful.
Donna
This message was edited Sep 29, 2015 7:01 PM
It really IS helpful. A company with a good reputation in some plants will probably try to keep up their reputation and carry everything that is healthy and grows well. Thanks.
You are very welcome.
this is a follow-up. I decided to order from Scheepers and the bulbs were 5 for $11.00. But then they told me they only took minimum orders of $35! I don't think I've ever ordered from a catalog or other nursery that required that type of minimum especially since Scheeper's charges for packaging and shipping. Boo.
Hey, Van Engelen (their wholesale arm) has a minimum of $50!
But under the right circumstances it can work If a bulb is relatively expensive in normal commerce, you can get bargains. I originally felt the way you do, but have placed multiple orders from Scheepers and 2 from Van Engelen. That said, I agree that it isn't the best place from which to try to order a small number of bulbs.
Thanks. I wish I had known that before I bothered but did not know their minimum order of $35 before I tried to order.
It is a bit of a shock...
Donna
Which companies do you use for peonies in Canada? I'm looking for some that I've only seen available from English companies and they don't ship.
Thanks
I'm happy to recommend Parkland Perennials. I also was looking for a peony (Cornelia Shaylor) that is not available in this country, and the only supplier I could find was in France. When I contacted them they were very abrupt. But I was referred to Parkland by a sweet person on our Canadian forum and had an amazing experience. I ordered five peonies, and a friend of mine ordered peonies and the best martagon lilies she had ever received.
I have ordered from five different companies and this is the first time the peonies were all true to name and bloomed the first season - with multiple flowers. Ordering Festiva, I was mistakenly sent Kansas (it's red, for heaven's sake), Lady Alexandra Duff, Ann Cousins and a peony I have not yet identified. You will have to pay for a $15 phytosanitary certificate but to get these superior peonies, it's worth it. I ordered Festiva Maxima four times and got the wrong peony three times. Bob Yarembo was on the money!
Here is the link to Parkland on Daves that explains my great experience. Unlike a lot of others he will ship you a single peony, but it makes more sense to order more. I had a great correspondence with him.
The first picture is Cornelia Shaylor planted the previous fall. I have never experienced a peony blooming like this the first spring after receipt. The second is Festiva Maxima. Planted the previous fall. I was delighted. After ten years of trying, I finally got three Festivas and two Cornelias. His peony prices are about what others are - some lower and some higher.
I could not recommend him more highly.
Ah, the link on Daves:
http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/206/