Mail Order FAIL

Cindy,I order plants on line quite a lot and they usually arrive via Courier or Royal Mail. I have used nurseries on e-bay and very rarely have trouble with the plants obtained there but I also use quite a lot that, from experience, are reputable and reliable such as Perfect Plants and Hayloft, and others. I have never had a problem where a Nursery has insinuated that the fault of any dead or poorly plants lies with me. I've have bought around 60 or 70 Echinacea and Monarda this year without any problems. I've also bought Erygium, Ferns, Phlox, Witch Hazel, Agaphanthus, Delphinium, perennial poppies, achillea,Astilbe Clematis,Helliborus, bearded iris, and Lupin (3 to 9 or so of each) this year with hardly a problem. My last order from Hayloft was 9 Lupins of 3 varieties. They were perfectly packed in plastic "green house" modules containing 3 plants each, but on inspecting the plants I found 2 plants had come loose from their pots and were damaged. I e-mailed Hayloft explaining what had happened and without evening questioning anything they replied saying the new plants were on the way.

To be honest, I would never question how many, or what variety, plants of one kind as that is your business and gardening style. I impulse buy quite a lot, following my heart rather than my head..........but a lot of gardeners do that. Buying in numbers allows you to plant in drifts or clumps being it one variety or more. If you want to buy in numbers then do so, it's your garden, your style, your choice and that's what gardening is all about.

I take it you won't be using that retailer again.