"griffon" wrote in message
...
I was looking at my Breck's catalog today because I have a coupon that
expires after today for $25.00 off a purchase of $50.00 or more. I
love tulips but I never buy any because of their reputation for not
returning.
Now Breck's has a "lifetime guarantee" and says that there is no time
limit on this, if you are unhappy with your plants for any reason now
or in years to come, you can receive a refund or replacement. I was
wondering if anyone has experience with this company and if they are
indeed that easy to work with.
We do have hot dry summers and pretty cold winters (zone 6b) so with
careful placement and annual feeding at the appropriate times,
theoretically a person should be able to make tulips return year after
years. But since I am not keen on throwing my money away, I would be
much more inclined to purchase bulbs from them if I knew of someone
that had experience with taking advantage of their lifetime guarantee
and having no problems with it.
While on the subject of tulips, I would also appreciate any pointers
to sites where a person can order botanical or species tulips,
particuarly any tulips that are good about multiplying. Brecks and
the half dozen or so other catalogs that I receive offering tulips
tends to carry mainly hybrids and "fancy" tulips which are quite
lovely, but I would like some tulips to throw around here and there
and not have to fuss over too much.
I don't know anything about Breck's but it seems really strange to me that
you can't get tulips to return. I live in zone 2-3 and have never had a
problem. Mine come back every year like clockwork. They're usually poking
through the ground before the snow melts! I've never had to fuss with
them... they just do their own thing. Maybe it's something in your type of
soil? Or maybe rodents? Have you checked to see if your bulbs are still th
ere in the spring? Two years ago, I planted over 300 bulbs in one bed and
only 1 bloomed because of mice and voles! I dug down later in the season
and the bulbs were just gone.
--
Tammie
Zone 2b-3a Far Northern Ontario
http://community.webshots.com/user/_tammie57