The scoop on 'Old House Gardens - Heirloom Bulbs'

Company Profile   Old House Gardens - Heirloom Bulbs Old House Gardens - Heirloom Bulbs has 290 products listed in PlantScout. Old House Gardens - Heirloom Bulbs is a Watchdog 30 company. Mailing Address: 536 Third St. Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103-4957 (United States) Phone: (734) 995-1486 Fax: (734) 995-1687 Catalog Order Page: Hyperlink Paper Catalog Cost: $2 » E-Mail them » Visit their website Recent reviews: Past month Past 6 Months Past 12 Months Positive 6 14 36 Neutral 0 0 0 Negative 0 0 0 This company offers a variety of bulbs. This company specializes in: Bulbs: Heirloom Flowers Other helpful information: Gift certificates or vouchers are available

Company Comment, posted on November 29, 2004:   Fellow Gardeners, We'd love to serve you! We're America's only mail-order source devoted entirely to antique and heirloom bulbs, many of them available nowhere else. Our easy, gorgeous, fragrant, wildflowery, and unusual bulbs grow at historic sites such as Williamsburg and in backyard gardens from Maine to Florida to California. Among our treasures you'll find medieval daffodils, Aztec tuberoses, colonial tulips, Victorian cannas, cottage-garden dahlias, rare hyacinths, wild lilies, and many other time-tested classics. We pride ourselves on the outstanding quality of our bulbs and our very friendly service. Please visit our website and subscribe to our free email newsletter to enrich your garden, touch the past, and help us Save the Bulbs! Scott Kunst, Owner and Head Gardener, Old House Gardens - Heirloom Bulbs

Feedback History and Summary   173 positives No neutrals No negatives

Comments:

Rating Author Content Positive bwyn Pittsburgh, PA (1 review) November 10, 2009 I truly cannot say enough good things about Old House Gardens. I first ordered from them in May of 2008, and was so pleased with their bulbs that I ordered again this year--3 different times! I just received my final order of this season today, and as always everything was carefully packaged, each variety labeled with their invaluable "bag tags". OHG's website is wonderful: gorgeous photos of everything they offer, loads of information about planting & care, and interesting details about the history of bulbs in general. I love that they specialize in heirloom varieties--I feel like I'm helping to save a little bit of living history in my small city lot here in Pittsburgh. I've only purchased fall-planted items so far: daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, snakeshead frits, real English bluebells, but they have spring-planted bulbs too.. They offer an astonishing variety of tulips & daffodils, especially. But the very best part of my experience with them has been the people. Every order comes with a handwritten, personalized note from Scott Kunst, their founder, and he just seems so NICE! He even noted that this was my 3rd order this season & thanked me again. Everyone I've spoken/emailed with has been so nice & helpful. They're even great with problems: I had a few bulbs which were duds, and Scott not only replaced them but threw in several more! If you want to buy beautiful bulbs & have a completely positive experience, shop Old House Gardens. Positive kathi_de Orrtanna, PA (1 review) November 08, 2009 Have had several orders from OHG and all have been filled with wonderful, huge bulbs! When I moved 2 zones south (after 20 years in frozen cold 4B) they're helping me fill my new 6A yard with color. My latest order contained twice what I paid for because they were out of 1 thing I ordered. They even called me to advise me that one of the things ordered would not grow for me. And easily subbed my choice! They are wonderfully encouraging and more than happy to go the extra mile to ensure their customers have great results! Positive woodmore Florence, SC (Zone 8a) (8 reviews) November 03, 2009 One of the best mail order experiences I have ever had. Being a relative bulb novice, I ordered a sampler & received nice, healthy bulbs picked for my z8 clime accompanied by a kind, handwritten note. Very detailed planting/care instructions were included. It is very evident that these folks care about their customers & their products. First class all the way. Positive dlefferts Agawam, MA (Zone 6a) (25 reviews) October 31, 2009 Excellent mail order company. The reviews are all correct. Great communication, packing,etc. Sent everything ordered. Recommend!! Positive Vygotskian Summerdale, AL (1 review) October 27, 2009 When I moved from NH to AL I had a lot to learn about southern gardening. A local garden columnist (Bill Finch) recommended OldHouse Gardens for their quality and outstanding service. I have been delighted with everything about this company over the past four years. They are the first in my experience to include personal notes with gardening advice along with their shipment. Through them I have discovered Byzantine glads and and lady tulips (tulipa clusiana), beautiful and unusual spring-flowering bulbs that do well here in the South. When I ordered some bulbs that I thought would be good here, I received a phone call from a very helpful staffer at OHG, advising me that these would likely not do well; she suggested alternatives that worked out wonderfully in my garden. OHG is tops in service as well as unusual bulbs! Positive sebrazer Salisbury, MD (1 review) October 23, 2009 This is my third or fourth year ordering from Old House Gardens - and once again the order arrived better than I ever could have hoped. As always, a hand-written note from the owner himself, each bulb with a variety-specific care note attached to the bag, and the entire order carefully packed. I garden in horribly nutrient-deficient sand, and don't always have a lot of luck with other plants, but when the OHG folks say in their catalog that a plant is an "easy grower" or "grows well in sand" they do know what they're talking about - their lilies have performed just wonderfully for me, and are truly breathtaking. I've gotten the most amazing comments and queries from folks walking past on the street - all of that while helping to preserve heirloom bulbs. You can't ever go wrong with OHG, unless (that is) you don't order from them in the first place! Positive Liesl Dallas, TX (1 review) October 19, 2009 I just received my bulb ordered and am so very pleased. They wrote a personal note with some advice about a specific bulb, something I've never seen before. So, not only are you supporting heirloom plants in ordering from this nursery, you're supporting a company that clearly cares about its customers. I will be back for more, again and again! Positive DaveKozakiewicz Ann Arbor, MI (1 review) October 19, 2009 I have been ordering from OHG for only four years but do not intend to stop. Their product line is often unique to just them or very hard to find otherwise. The quality I have received has in every single instance been just stupendous. I sometimes plant thinking "My God, just these bulbs are beautiful". Customer service is sometimes an oxymoron in today's society but these guys have reinvented it. They are beyond wonderful at all times and if there should ever be a problem (I did have one variety misidentified somewhere along the line) they not only want to know but are then even better. Should you need advice about hardiness etc. you can call and speak to real folks who know what and love what they are doing. Try doing that with your clickable shopping cart. I cannot say enough good things about an operation that offers great products and the very best customer service ever. Positive ejean State College, PA (1 review) October 11, 2009 I have been a customer of OHG since 2003 when I lived in Ann Arbor and could stop by their place to pick up my order and say hello to the people who make it all work. There really is an old house, and it does have gardens. Now I live 300 miles away and am using bulbs from OHG to revive neglected gardens at my new house. The bulbs always arrive in great shape and make a wonderful show. They have gotten me to try hyacinths, a plant I never cared - but they made me a believer. OHG hyancinths are a whole different species from the ones you find in most gardens. I could go on and on . . . Beyond quality and great service, what sets OHG apart is being able to get response from real people. Positive libby001 Romeo, MI (1 review) October 05, 2009 I've been a customer of OHG for 5 years, and love them! Their bulbs always arrive in excellent condition with a personal message from the bulb packer. If you're trying to restore a historic garden, or if you're just looking for something different for your garden, this is the place for you!! Positive frogandtoad2 Greenfield, MA (Zone 5a) (2 reviews) September 11, 2009 I can't say enough good things about Old House Gardens. The rubrum lilies I bought from them, now in their third year, are stunning. The antique daffodils are lovely. They offer a selection I've never seen anywhere else. And I got a handwritten note with my order, giving advice about a pest question I'd asked. Positive phdler Homer, NY (9 reviews) June 20, 2009 One of the best on-line plant sources I've found. Healthy bulbs, great advice, and trustworthy. When I order an heirloom plant from them I am sure I am getting "the real thing" and not a modern version of a 19th century variety. Their tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are peerless. The best selection of plants that are virtually impossible to find today and at reasonable prices considering the quality of their bulbs. If you want a period garden, Old House Gardens is indispensable. Positive MavisFlowers Lufkin, TX (Zone 8a) (1 review) June 03, 2009 Wonderful company with a nice selection of big, fat healthy antique bulbs & plants. I have been ordering from them for the last couple of years and I must say their customer service is the best I have ever experienced. After asking an e-mail question for advice about glads I purchased which did not bloom, I was contacted by the company and told they would like to send me UNSOLICITED REPLACEMENTS!! I spoke at length with Kelly one of their staff who is a Master Gardener and she helped me out by recommending good replacement choices which they sent out free. Terrific people, buy from them NOW! Positive soldiersong North Plains, OR (Zone 8a) (12 reviews) June 02, 2009 I have to post about the friendly and helpful customer service of this company. I've ordered from them repeatedly and have never been disappointed. When one of the bulbs I ordered, a rather rare one, did not perform, I noted it in the comments of my next order. I didn't ask for any action on the part of Old House Gardens, but wanted them to know the bulb did not produce a plant. Not only did Charlie reply, but he sent a replacement bulb, even though I didn't ask for one. After my first order, I've not received a single shipment from Charlie without his writing a personal note on the paperwork. The staff at this company clearly cares about the product and the customers and actually recognizes returning customers personally. These days, with impersonal internet and catalog ordering, it is refreshing and heartening to do business with a company with good, old fashioned work ethics and customer service. All of the bulbs I've received from OHG have been large and healthy. Even when I forgot to plant my fall bulbs until spring one year, they performed - and continue to do so. Positive ErinNH Concord, NH (Zone 5a) (2 reviews) May 22, 2009 I placed my first order last fall and was thrilled with my flowers this spring. The catalog and website is pure eyecandy and they have fabulous stuff not available anywhere else. The staff are fabulous, and it is a treat to deal with people who love what they are doing. I have to admit that because of budget constraints (and a husband who doesn't really get spending a ton of money on the garden) that for more generic things like thalia narcissus I order from cheaper sources, but I plan to continue to budget a good chunk of my bulb money to OHG for the forseeable future. Positive Gardenartist9 Roanoke, VA (1 review) May 17, 2009 Pure Magic, From receiving their gorgeous album of the precious bulbs and plants , to speaking with them personally ( a real charming experience) to actually holding the material sooner than I ever expected and in such awesome condition , flawless! Each year I've ordered has been even more scrumptious than the last , and I feel like they sort of know who I am and take pains to give an extra comment or compliment particular to me. ( They even requested permission to use one of my comments to them as an entry in their next catalogue, very fun and flattering). I have yet to encounter a problem , and even when I accidently destroyed an item which they were at that point out of , they miraculously discovered one and sent it ,(without my knowing about it until I was delightfully surprised to open the box and find the little treasure). I have always had a fondness for Dahlias, to include in the boquets I paint in watercolor from, and am really thrilled to anticipate the next catalogue and the exciting discovery of another rare or uncommon tuber to try in my garden and my arrangements. Thank you Old House Gardens for the little piece of home ( as I imagine it was once upon a time) and for the sweet care and top notch quality you would expect from an operation which is obviously created by and for people who love beautiful flowers. Positive Gardening_Jim Vancouver, WA (8 reviews) May 12, 2009 I ordered from them in 2008 for the fall planting season. All the bulbs were packaged nicely and all had a flier describing the history of the bulb and the growing instructions. They have bulbs you will not find any place else. I will continue doing business with them. Positive marietta68 Marietta, GA (Zone 7a) (1 review) May 08, 2009 My first order exceeded expectations by a mile; I've never seen such healthy bulbs and rhizomes. My order was for assorted spring-planted bulbs for Zone 7a and the selections are perfect. The service was excellent and friendly, shipping was very prompt, I'll post again when they're up and in bloom to double-confirm the quality! This vendor is highly recommended. Positive carlsca Somerset, NJ (1 review) May 07, 2009 Perfect customer service, perfect product. Very friendly and answer all questions. More like friends/family than a company. I love ordering from them, and I love the flowers even more! Positive plantslayer Raymond, ME (17 reviews) April 30, 2009 What a great company. I am currently watching the beauty of the rare bulbs they sell in my garden. If you want something different from the norm, check them out. Positive hummer_girl Saint Louis, MO (Zone 6a) (12 reviews) April 29, 2009 I'm a repeat customer with Old House Gardens, and that's because their hummer-friendly cannas are excellent stock! I bought more this year and included Glads in my order, and Old House sent me an additional 3 Glads to share with a friend, which I think is an excellent idea to promote their product and keep our hummers happy. My friend lives next door and we share plants and hummers cheerfully! Positive NancyMcD Grand Marais, MI (2 reviews) April 29, 2009 Old House Gardens is everything a mail-order retailer should be, with fast, friendly service, orders carefully filled, and lots of useful information about the products sold. It's wonderful! The bulbs and other products are always in excellent condition when I get them. And the plants themselves? Fabulous! It's such fun to be part of the effort to save endangered antique plants. I've been ordering from OHG for many years and have never once been disappointed. HIGHLY recommended. Positive Mextuberose Marshall, MO (1 review) April 27, 2009 Great heirloom bulbs and great personal service have made me a loyal customer of Old House Gardens. I wanted to plant some single Mexican tuberose bulbs to honor the memory of my mother, as she introduced them to me, and we shared a love for them. The bulbs I received from Old House Gardens are large, healthy ones. Tucked into the package of bulbs was a handwritten note from Scott, the proprietor of OHG, offering sympathy to me in the loss of my mother, and telling me that he had honored his grandmother's memory by planting her favorite variety of chrysanthemum. Not that's personal service! Plus, Charlie, the Old House Garden cat, has his own e-mail address. The employees at OHG take turns answering Charlie's e-mail. (I can tell that the OHG staff loves to promote treasured bulbs AND have a good time!) I can't say enough good things about OHG. Positive A12 Lexington, KY (3 reviews) April 24, 2009 This is an excellent company. I received my order within about a week of placing it online and everything was hand-packed and healthy. I would recommend them to anyone. They even included a few extra bulbs to pass along to a gardening friend. Positive AngryRedHead Austin, TX (Zone 8b) (2 reviews) April 24, 2009 I ordered 10 Wyoming Cannas and 25 Abyssinian Gladiolus bulbs, and they look wonderful! The bag of cannas were heavy, and the roots were gorgeous. The gladiolus bulbs were fat and firm and equally gorgeous. The selection and prices are great, and the company is charming. The website is very easy to navigate, and I'll definitely be ordering from this company again. Positive happy_garden Dallas, TX (1 review) April 19, 2009 Many orders placed and received from this wonderful source. The bulbs are always finest quality unique and hard to find heirlooms. They also tolerate my panicked calls for advice from time to time (okay, every season). Old House Gardens manages to pull off consistently perfect and professional customer service but still relate to their customers in a warm "fellow-gardener" way. Such a rarity -- support them with your business! Positive maegreen Lebanon, TN (2 reviews) April 16, 2009 The daffodil bulbs I ordered and planted last fall have been exquisite, with abundant blooms. The customer service was superb and friendly. I'll be reordering. Many thanks. Positive kathrynrosewyat Salem, OR (1 review) April 15, 2009 Old House Gardens It seems we've made a new friend for life! We have been ordering items from various companies for years and we have NEVER experienced the quality of customer service as we did from Old House Gardens. They are absolutely amazing!! We could tell that each and every bulb was packed with loving care and concern for our success! In this era of "Customer no-service", where many companies treat you as a number, Old House Gardens is vastly different. They do care and do treat you like one of the family. We wish them continued success for many years to come. We are so glad we heard them on the KXL radio show in Oregon called, "In the Garden with Mike Darcy"! Sincerely, George and Kathryn Wyatt, Salem, Oregon Positive welshcorgilover Safety Harbor, FL (1 review) April 11, 2009 I was so excitied to receive my Canna Lily bulbs from Old House Gardens. The bulbs are big and clean, exactly as described. Can't WAIT to watch them grow. Positive kdash Parkersburg, WV (1 review) April 09, 2009 This is the second or third year I've ordered bulbs from Old House Gardens. I've been extremely pleased with their service and the quality of their bulbs. Last week, I wanted to add some more bulbs to my order. I couldn't find my old order (which I wanted to add to) and so I called their number. NO voice mail, menu-driven, push button, "drive you crazy" phone system at Old House Gardens! I got an actual live person who spoke English I could readily understand...and who was charming and helpful to boot. I can NOT remember the last time I had such a positive phone experience with a retailer. The folks at Old House Garden believe in and love what they are doing--and it shows. I hope to be a customer of theirs for many years to come. Positive michelleyk Whittier, CA (3 reviews) April 09, 2009 Just recieved the bulbs and they're beautiful! I followed the great directions and planted some of them immediately! The rest can wait until next week, as I'm creating a brand new bed specifically for my beautiful bulbs! Excellent customer service, personalized attention above and beyond anything I've ever seen, and most of all, an excellent selection of rare bulbs! Positive LeeAnne151 Portland, OR (9 reviews) April 08, 2009 Very happy with my order from Old House Gardens. Bulbs were nice sized and when they bloomed in spring, truly named. They have great customer service, reasonable prices and unique varieties. I'll buy again. Positive kgaddba Missouri City, TX (1 review) April 07, 2009 More than a catalog company: a new gardening friend! Always top quality, always concerned customer service, always a hand-written note! Old-fashioned plants that are so hard to find, most from local US of A growers! What more could you ask for? Thanks, Scott, for being such a dream to deal with! Positive dee_bee Oak Park, IL (1 review) April 04, 2009 Wonderful customer service at Old House Gardens! Today I got bulbs from them, and Scott, the owner, had hand-written a note with thanks and instructions for an especially sensitive plant. Before getting the shipment, they sent a couple of emails to let me know the status of my order. So far, so good ... make that great! Positive WhiteGoldWielder Doylestown, PA (2 reviews) April 02, 2009 I've been a customer of Old House Gardens for years ... and every year, when I think their customer service just couldn't get any better, they surprise me! Their collection of heirloom bulbs has been getting more extensive and the website photos are gorgeous and true to color of the bulb pictured. Their prices for the superior quality and rarity of bulbs is very fair and they raise prices rarely and with great regret. They go out of their way to package and ship carefully [I have two orders every year (Fall, Spring)] ... this year, I had ordered Ehmaii canna and there were no less than 3 reminders of the special care this plant needs -- they REALLY cared about the bulb and about the customer. I really don't know how to say it any other way: this is the only company I'll buy bulbs from; this is where I send all my friends; and this is where I get treated like a person and friend, not just "the next one in line". They've become like family ... and isn't that what you'd like your bulb source to be? Positive nymegen Auburn, NH (6 reviews) April 02, 2009 What a wonderful company,clear instructions and beautiful ,large canna rhizomes.On top of that their updated catolog with 3 extra free bulbs to share with a friend!! Definitively will recommend them,you can not go wrong. Positive Ronni92 East Stroudsburg, PA (11 reviews) November 17, 2008 Their lily bulbs are beautiful! They are plump and perfect. As I planted them, I could not help but wonder how they will look after they have a few seasons to mature. And this past spring, I planted some of their awsome elephant ears. They grew so well, people were describing my front garden as a "jungle". That's my kind of elephant ear! You can find cheaper sources,or more expensive sources, but not better sources. With my last order I received a hand written note and detailed planting instructions. Old House Gardens people know their business. Positive evelyn_inthegarden Grizzly Flats, CA (10 reviews) November 07, 2008 Thank you Old House Gardens! What an amazing experience! I ordered bulbs this year from several different firms, and I must say, that this company is FIVE STAR rated! The Foxtail lilies that were sent were 10 times the size of another bulb company, and the bulbs were fresh and alive as opposed to being shriveled and dry. All the rest of the order was top notch as well. Kudos to this wonderful company. I was unable to order all that I wanted, but maybe next year, I will only order from them, as I believe I have all I need, but there are some that I wanted from them but were a bit pricey, but, I feel, not out of line, but worth the money. I will order more from them next year. You MUST look at their online catalog, even if you don't need any bulbs! Keep those heirlooms going! Great job! Positive lpw0623 Tupelo, MS (2 reviews) November 03, 2008 Bravo to Old House Gardens! You guys could teach a graduate level university course on customer service!! Add to this some of the best quality bulbs I have ever received, and you have a WORLD CLASS company. I can hardly wait to order more bulbs from you. Positive jane_stevens9 Wichita, KS (11 reviews) October 22, 2008 OHG is my favorite source for ordering bulbs. Not only do they offer a variety of heirloom bulbs, Scott adds a personal touch with a handwritten note in green ink! I am wondering what I will do when I run out of places to plant new shipments of bulbs.... I have a box of tulip bulbs to plant this afternoon. They will bring such pleasure in the spring, not only to me but to the neighbors also! Thanks Scott, Charlie et al....

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