response 1 of 25:

Jun 16 07:45 UTC 1997

Valerie, I just got a wonderful bulb catalog in the mail.  No photographs
of flowers, but incredibly cheap prices.  It's a Dutch firm with
a shipping office here in the US.  Their name is Van Engelen, Inc.,
and their phone number is (860) 567-8734.  These are wholesale prices
offered direct to the customer, so the quantities of bulbs are very 
large.  Most daffodils come in lots of 50 bulbs, and so forth, but 
they also have several collections available with fewer bulbs each
of more different kinds of bulbs.  If you want pictures of the flowers,
you will also need another catalog.  I'll see which of my other
catalogs would be good, and get back to this item later.

response 7 of 25:

Nov 24 07:30 UTC 1997

I'm hoping it's not too late to plant bulbs.  I ordered a whole bunch
this year, but they arrived in mid-october, when I was way too
busy with The Pirates of Penzance at school to garden.  I'm still
really busy,, but I might get a day this weekend to plant at least
some of my stash.  

response 13 of 25:

Dec 11 22:39 UTC 1997

Well, it's been a while since i"ve been online, hasnt it?  However, I have
a success story for you folks worrying about planting bulbs.

Several years ago, I planted my fall bulbs and iris roots during the January
thaw.  They all came up just fine, and bloomed that spring.

<sigh> not a good thing for a procrastinator to know.

response 15 of 25:

Feb 4 04:34 UTC 1998

I get most of my bulbs from Breck's... because the quality is dependable
and because they replace the whole shipment if you complain about one
bulb or two. 
I hate Michigan Bulb company - I ordered from them once... The first
problem was that they sent everything separately...piecemeal,
one little bag at a time . So it's really hard to just save a weekend
and plant everything at the same time. You have to plant in spurts
and it drives me bonkers. Secondly, their quality was crappy.
Thirdly, they gave me a hard time to replace anything - they didnt
replace anything. Fourthly, they gave me a tiny refund ($10 on $80
I think), because I just cancelled the rest. The rest they wouldnt
give me a refund for until I mailed back the shrivelled plants
and bulbs back - which I didnt do, I was sick of it.
So I spent $80, and what did get planted didn't grow.
Last, but not the least, they put my name on all kinds of
silly Million dollar sweepstakes and catalogs, so the junk mail keeps
coming. I throw it out without looking at the MI Bulb Co. Catalog.
 
Breck's tulips have grown much bigger and longer than the cheaper bulbs
I got at HQ (when it was open). 
 
You really want to get them in the ground before frost , though.
Before the snow, definitely.
I have procrastinated once or twice, and planted them in the spring -
the results are that they don't grow.
 
Also, I get non-bulb plants and flowers from SpringHill (which
is a subsidiary of Breck's and has the same wonderful refund/
replacement policy). (I have had a couple of orders completely
replaced for FREE i.e. I called and complained the peony roots
I got seemed all wilted with no eyes. They sent me another order
which doubled my peonies - planted them all, and they ALL grew.
 
Also, another place I LOVE is the Plymouth Nursery...I just got a
lot of plants and bulbs from them this fall - including a pretty
huge rhododendron (clerance $15). The bulbs looked big and healthy,
just like Breck's (whose catalog I was carrying for comparison
as I was shopping at the Plymouth Nursery). I think the bulbs
will turn out great. That's what Iexpect. <Waiting with anticipation 
for spring>.

response 17 of 25:

Feb 4 04:55 UTC 1998

Another source I just thought of - and I have never tried this : there's
a tulip Festival in Holland, in May, when the tulips are in full bloom.
I bet they sell all kinds of huge , cheap bulbs. I think I'll go
check it out this year.
Maybe we could both go.

response 19 of 25:

Feb 7 06:51 UTC 1998

Okay I will post directions to the PLymouth Nursery...I go up Prospect,
then past Ford Road, onto Plymouth Road (I think). PLymouth Nursery
is unmistakable - you can't miss it , on the right. There's a couple
of other nurseries i have been to once or twice further up the road.
Let me get a map, and I'll post more specific and precise directions.
Also, the nursery is closed until spring...Their big tall sign
says "See you in the Spring"

response 21 of 25:

Feb 7 14:49 UTC 1998

While you're at Plymouth Nursery be sure to go just a little
further toward Plymouth and visit Good's Nursery.  It's my
favorite place to see and buy perennials.  I collect hostas.
Good's is hosta heaven.

response 23 of 25:

Mar 23 02:44 UTC 1998

Since I come from AA instead of Ypsi (and so would Valerie) I always 
take M-14 East to M153 (Ford Road) and continue east 4 miles to Plymouth 
Nursery. It's a very interesting place. Speaking of nurseries in that 
area, I also go to Margolis for some things (usually bigger trees). 
They're a few miles south, on Cherry Hill east of Propect.

Margolis is where I bought my favorite Spruce tree, that I have made 
mention of elsewhere.