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On Nov 21, 2009, clpgirl Chippewa Lake, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:
WOW! The assortment of bulbs they carry is amazing! This is my second order, and again the order arrived in a timely manner, with huge, solid bulbs, well-packed. B&B's was the only place I could find El-Cid Tulip, and am planning to give this as a gift to a friend at Christmas. Their prices, espcially with the sales, are very, very good. I will not hestitate to order from them again, as each time I have been pleased with communication, size and health of the bulbs. Thanks B&B for being a solid resource for those of us looking for something a bit off the beaten track!
On Nov 12, 2009, holeth Lehigh Valley, PA (Zone 6a) wrote:
They kept me posted entire time. They're almost too conscientious. Product bloomed beautifully. Great people.
Prev posts point to pattern over punctuality. I won't split hairs over a day here or a week there. Perhaps published dates are approximated or target dates. Maybe catalog date is when a season begins to ship for a product group, not when last order is completed.
Tiny variations in weather affect harvest time & quality with living &/or perishable products. Any business that has steep seasonal peaks and doldrums in sales volume is hard enough to manage without wildcards from "Mother Nature." Drop-dead deadlines are for production floors, not growing fields. Why punish such sweet & generous folks over trivial matters?
I sing their praises for great products, better than fair pricing, and for being tremendous communicators!
On Nov 11, 2009, DonnaMack Grayslake, IL (Zone 5a) wrote:
Posted on March 26, 2004, updated November 11, 2009
I have been ordering bulbs from B&B since 1999, and I would have to say that the results have been overwhelmingly positive. The lilies, chionodoxa, alliums, camasias and bulbocodiums have all been outstanding, but I have to give particular praise to their forced hyacinths, which I just ordered on sale this past season, and their amaryllis. I ordered amaryllis Picotee and Appleblossum, also on sale, and very late in the season, but one of my Picotees produced three stems, while another that produced two stems produced six flowers on a single stem. My only problem with B&B is that the quantities tend to be more than I can work into a setting. My garden is not large enough for 25 of one kind of daffodil, but for the so-called minor bulbs, the quality is had to beat, and I order every year without fail.
On November 11th, 2009, DonnaMack added the following:
I have been ordering from B&B every year since my initial review, and I continue to be very pleased with this company. From tulips, to iris reticulata, to crocus vernus, to narcissus, the quality is excellent and the customer service superb. I am also happy to say that the required quantities have been reduced, which has given me the ability to acquire smaller quantities of more bulbs. The ten Vie en Rose daffs I just received, for example, are huge and fresh. In terms of quality, they are on par with the best.
On Nov 9, 2009, bbrookrd nantucket, MA (Zone 7a) wrote:
Posted on December 14, 2006, updated November 09, 2009
I ordered four times directly from Brent and Becky's Bulbs this year. The number of bulbs ordered was about 950 bulbs. Most of the orders where for spring blooming bulbs for 2007. The website, as well as the catalog, are precise, easy to use and their bulb selection is the most extensive I've seen in the industry for the U.S. gardener. Their prices are competitive and the shipping is very fair. Their fall sales are a terrific way to indulge and experiment with some of the more unusual items. It was hard to wait for the final mark down, but I received a good portion of what I selected and the size and condition of the bulbs was as good as it gets. I posted a picture of a clump of a Hippeastrum, 'supreme Garden' that I received this past week in the bulb forum as an example of a terrific bulb. It was incredibly generous. The lilies I planted from them last summer all did splendidly. Patti
On November 9th, 2009, bbrookrd added the following:
I once again ordered a bunch of bulbs on July 17Th 2009 from Brent and Becky that included 15 different Narcissus, 16 different Tulips, 3 different Iris and 7 other types of Alliums, Crocus, Anemone and Muscarii. I am happy to rave about the whole process. They are very organized with the invoicing, shipping and as well as with the quality of bulbs. I love this company and their customer service people. They are always quick to advise if something is unavailable or not up to their standards and are happy to fix the problem in any way that will make the customer happy. What a concept in this day. Thanks again, Patti
At next to the last minute this season I decided to look for some daffodils/narcissus - I had some plain ol' yellow and white ones growing. Then a couple years ago I decided to move them around, because at that time they were all in the same flower bed. I still don't know what happened, but the following spring only the white ones returned, which at the time didn't bother me, because I liked the white ones better, but this past spring I found that I missed having yellow among the white...
However, I decided not to order more (at that time) because I didn't really want to order a bunch of yellow. If I was going to order some, I wanted to mix things up a bit. Well, then summer came and other things started blooming and I forget about daffodils/narcissus.
Then I was reading the Watchdog last week, and decided I did want to go ahead and order some daffodils/narcissus, but of course at that point it was late enough that my usual places (online and offline) had pretty much sold out of the more exotic varieties (or didn't carry them in the first place).
Anyway, on October 21st I started checking out Brent&Becky... Sure, they had some that were sold out, but they offered so many different kinds that I managed to find ones I wanted despite that. Still there was some fear about ordering so late, because I might not get them in time to put them in the ground. Some companies take up to three weeks to ship out an order, and three weeks would be pushing it, but I decided to order anyway and request B&B ship as soon as possible. Even then I figured it would be the first of November at least before I received my order, instead I got my bulbs in under a week! Awesome! That means I can have them in the ground before Halloween.
And the bulbs are (in most cases) HUGH! I'm not kidding. I've dug up the bulbs in my own yard, and even the biggest I've found is still small next to the B&B bulbs. Well, two of the ones I ordered from them are about the same size as bulbs from my own yard, so it might be that others are just naturally larger, but either way I am impressed, especially since some of the bulbs were in the process of splitting, so in many cases they gave me almost twice as many as I ordered.
The fast shipping and those large beautiful bulbs are the reason I decided to go ahead and post a positive rather than waiting until spring.
On Oct 24, 2009, kentstar Ravenna, OH (Zone 5b) wrote:
Posted on April 26, 2009, updated October 24, 2009
I ordered some Salmon Star lilies and Yelloween lilies from them. This is my first time with them. So far I am impressed. Good size bulbs and healthy looking. I can't wait to see them in action...
I'll be back
Thankyou!
On October 24th, 2009, kentstar added the following:
I ordered some minnow, rip van winkles, and baby moon daffodils from you. Quick shipping, great communication, and the bulbs look fine.
Thankyou!
Just a follow up on the Yelloween and Salmon Star lilies ordered earlier this season: They never came up! Now, I don't know if I planted them too deep (8 inches) and they're just dormant or if they rotted in my clay soil. I'll wait to see what happens in spring.
Can't say enough good things about this company! Bulbs always arrive on time and in excellent shape, and they always bloom and provide a good show for fall, spring and summer. Great packing, great customer service and great shipping.
On Jul 15, 2009, ic_conifers Iowa City, IA (Zone 5a) wrote:
I ordered quite a few things from Brent & Becky's Bulbs this year, including several heat mats, a few varieties of colocasia (elephant's ears), and a few bananas. Everything is growing well. Communications with the company were excellent and the staff were very nice answering my questions. Prices were very reasonable. Overall I'm a happy customer!
I ordered some tubers and bare root plants on their end of season sale. I ordered on Sunday night and my order was on my deck by Thursday. I got emails confirming every step along the way. When I have called them in the past, they have always been friendly and helpful. I like the variety that they offer.
On May 31, 2009, irmaly boone, NC (Zone 5b) wrote:
Just received my dahlia order at 50% off (which happens to be the perfect time for putting them in the ground here). As usual, the bulbs were HUGE and in great shape. Shipping and confirmations were very fast. Excellent company--one of my very favorites.
On May 31, 2009, roseydew3 West Jefferson, OH wrote:
Recently received my order from the 50% off sale and would like to say I am amazed at the tremendous size and health of the lily bulbs that I received. Everything arrived in excellent condition. Would definitely recommend this company.
We placed our first order with B&B, during their 50% off sale. It's always a risk buying bulbs from a new company, but the good reviews and the sale spurred us on to make a decent order. Everything just arrived, on time, and looks amazing. Almost everything is bigger than standard top-sized bulbs I've received for many, many years from an assortment of companies. There is no question that B&B just became a go-to company for us in the future. We may even make an additional purchase while the sale is still going on since the product was so incredible!
On June 4th, 2009, Emma75 added the following:
I did place another large order while their sale was still going on, and once again received fabulous products! Both orders have had potted plants and bulbs, and both times everything was packed superbly! My plants from the first order are doing great, and have not had any trouble adjusting to the change from Virginia's to Florida's climate!
On May 25, 2009, denver_dry Denver, CO (Zone 5a) wrote:
Great source for summer bulbs--ordered on a Friday afternoon, and the order was on the porch one week later. Enormous tubers packed carefully in soil in plastic bags, then all clearly labeled, and then into a sturdy cardboard box. No spills, no damage, and all at a good price. Website and catalog are easy to use, ordering process and confirmation emails always let you know where you are in the process. B&B are so good that I take it for granted that the transactions will go well--because it always does go well. Thanks Brent, Becky and team...you make my garden look like I know what I'm doing!
3 years ago I saw B&B bulbs at the national arboretum so I ordered 50 daffodils and dwarf irises from B&B. Everything came up in the spring and are still going strong. 2 Years ago I ordered 50 hyacinths and more daffodils. They are just as great as the first lot, and have matured into huge clumps of strong daffodils. Last fall I put in another 150 bulbs including even more daffodils and 3 types of tulips-2 darwin hybrids and a varigated tulip 'juan' which was spectacular this spring. I just purchased & planted another 12 lilies and when I ordered a cultivator a few months later they combined my orders to save shipping. Every bulb I ever purchased from them has been awesome and come up the next year, even when I was lazy with soil amendments. I like the catalog esp. Brent's favorites, he us usually spot on about the best looking flowers and it is good about describing great combinations. Highly recomend these guys, they are awesome.
I ordered over 1000 bulbs from this company last fall. I am completely pleased with the quality and selection. They sent all the bulbs in full and on time. The customer service is A++++. Outstanding company, you can tell this is not just a business for them, it is a passion.
On Apr 28, 2009, Hemhostaholic Scranton, PA (Zone 5b) wrote:
This was my maiden voyage (so to speak) with Brent and Becky's. I have gone into ordering with a friend of mine, and have split orders with him, but he's always been the one that has ordered...and everything has always been stellar! This order included 5 dahlias (all of the dahlias have dark leaves) and 10 lily bulbs, 5 of 2 different kinds. The dahlia clumps were huge! I think, without exaggerating that 1 of the clumps weighed almost a pound! The lily bulbs were all huge, about the size of a medium sized lemon/lime!
I will most definitely be ordering from B&B again!
On Apr 28, 2009, jenmurphy Weymouth, MA (Zone 6a) wrote:
I have had terrible experience with mail order companies before but after reading the reviews here I gave Brent and Becky a shot. I had a large order that consisted of potted, bare root and bulbs. The packaging was out of this world! I didn't even have 1 bent or broken stem. The plants were larger and more healthy than I ever imagined, far from the twigs and dirt I have received from other companies in the past. This will be my go to company from here on in! I am telling everyone I know about Brent and Becky's. All plants are currently doing well, no planting shock or a single problem. I am beyond happy!
I ordered a variety of gingers from this company and can not give them a better rating than wonderful,wonderful packaging with recyclable materials and SUPERB plants.Top quality ,great service and will definitively recommend them!!!!!!
On June 4th, 2009, nymegen added the following:
I just can not resist a 50% off sale,again just great quality and service
On Apr 10, 2009, bluespanishlady Rochester, MN wrote:
Outstanding! Large healthy bulbs, great selection, good prices, great communication & customer service: I just received my first bulb order today and the bulbs are simply spectacular! This is quality quality quality!
I ordered about 300 daffodil bulbs from this company last autumn -- 2 varieties -- one to bloom early and the other to bloom a bit later. I have had steady blooms for close to a month. Oh man, those flowers look great!
On Mar 27, 2009, jimmy2 live oak, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:
i orderd early 2 alocasia plants on this website, they were very friendly and sent my order early,the only thing ups dropped to wrong house,human error, thanks to nice neighbors,i recieved pkg, i enjoy ordering from becky,and brent, luv the selection,and great customer service,will luv to order agian, a happy customer
On Mar 5, 2009, LIGladLover Brentwood, NY (Zone 6b) wrote:
I was very pleased with the order I received from them. Everything was well packaged and labelled. All of the bulbs were good-sized and no indications of rot. Everything bloomed wonderfully and I'll definitely be buying from them again.
On Feb 21, 2009, sunnyg San Jose, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:
I ordered bulbs during their clearance last summer. DSL mistakenly delivered them to a neighbor’s house, and B&B was wonderful in assisting me to track down my package. A few of my bulbs looked iffy after baking in 100 degree heat, so customer service made a notation in my record and offered a refund if they didn’t work out. Everything did perform well in spite of the little detour. I was pleased with both the bulbs, and the friendly and professional customer service.
I've been ordering from B&B now for over ten years and have been pleased as punch. I am a daffoholic and after I exhausted the smaller suppliers like Park's and the Dutch guys B&B became my supplier of choice. I've bought all their "show-quality" bulbs and now I just "fill in" when older bulbs have petered out or gone missing for some reason. They've always been great when I call them on the phone with an order or a problem so when a bulb or two came in soft last time I ordered I couldn't complain. I also don't think I've ever received a mislabeled daffy from B&B. When people come to my garden or into my shop and see my daffies they always ask where I get the bulbs and I send them to B&B first.
On Dec 30, 2008, steveandaudrey Poquoson, VA wrote:
We bought our first bulbs from Brent and Becky more than 28 years ago when we were new Virginians starting our first garden in Poquoson. They welcomed us to their bulb storage shed, and helped us select from their many available pink daffodils, bulbs previously unknown to us. Those large double and triple-nosed bulbs grew beautifully, as have all the bulbs we've bought from them in the years since. Their catalogs are beaufiful, full of helpful advice and culture information. We've continued to purchase several thousand bulbs and plants in the following years, and we've always found their bulbs and plants to be healthy and ready to grow. B&B maintain a wonderful demonstration garden, well worth a trip to their Gloucester location, and we visit there to purchase plants every year.
On Dec 5, 2008, artemiss Toledo, OH (Zone 5b) wrote:
This might be premature, since I haven't seen how well they grow and produce, but I have been so thoroughly pleased thusfar with the customer service and products I have received on both of my orders from this company.
The first one was actually two separate orders placed over the weekend, but unlike one of their competitors, rather than charging me shipping for two separate orders, I got a personal email indicating that they were combining them to save me a few dollars on shipping.
The second time I ordered from their end of year sale, and while everything I have received was of excellent quality, there was one bag of what were originally one of their more costly daffs that contained some of the biggest bulbs I have ever seen. While getting bulbs with small bulblets is common, these were literally two full sized bulbs, and in the case of some, three. I was astounded to receive such a superior product, particularly at 50% off.
Yes, they may been more pricey than some others, but I guess it's true, you often get what you pay for.
On Nov 19, 2008, 1AnjL (AnjL) Fremont, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:
I had ordered during their sale and received all bulbs promptly and in great health. I planted some at my house and some up in WA at moms house and they are all thriving! Great prompt service at a low price... I will definitely order from them again!
On Oct 24, 2008, nanny_56 Putnam County, IN (Zone 5b) wrote:
Received my order of 5 Anastasia Lily Bulbs this week. They are nice bulbs but not exceptional. I bought these at a price of 5 for 15.95 I believe it was. If they all grow and are true to name that is a great bargin for this particular lily.
On Oct 7, 2008, slichtyler Hillsborough, NC (Zone 7b) wrote:
I placed an order for about $150 worth of bulbs this fall, and I've been very pleased so far. The bulbs arrived quickly, and all seemed healthy. They were larger than I was expecting. (At first I was annoyed that they were charging more for some of the bulbs that my local nursery carries - but in truth, all of their bulbs were substantially plumper than those at the nursery, so I expect that they're actually offering fair value.)
Perhaps it's premature to write a review before I see my springtime display - but so far, an excellent experience.
This is the most wonderful company EVER!!! I should have ordered every bulb from them this year and will in the future. I ordered daffodils and had a perfect experience. They promptly email you a confirmation of your order and the bulbs were in my hands in a matter of days. This company deserves an AAAAA+++++ rating. First class all the way!!!!!!!
On April 14th, 2009, sandnsea2 added the following:
Just received an order of Lily Bulbs. They were the best, most vibrant I have ever ordered and I have ordered hundreds over the years from other companies. They had long, thick, fat healthy roots and looked as if they had been freshly dug. I am truly amazed and so pleased. KUDOS!!!
