It's time to read and vote for your favorite article in the 2013 Write-Off Contest! The four finalist's articles are featured in the May 13 newsletter and can be found through this link. Hurry! Voting ends May 18.
You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
After placing my order via Made in the Shade Gardens' website, I received my order within 3 days. The six plants arrived with ample, healthy leaves and good root systems. They are now planted and adjusting to their new climate and soil. I couldn't be happier with the plants and the prompt responses from Rob. I'm looking forward to watching the new hostas grow. Thanks so much.
Excellent service, excellent catalog and most importantly excellent plant specimens. They arrived fresh, healthy and beautiful. I'll never buy my hostas elsewhere.
Mike in KC
On Jul 30, 2009, Turkeycatsmom Carlisle, PA wrote:
My Sun Spot hosta arrived today in excellent condition. She's doing fine in her new home which is currently a large Italian terracotta pot. Comes early fall, she'll have a permanent home in one of our shade gardens. I definitely will buy from Made in the Shade Gardens again. Great service and fabulous hosta selection.
I just received the first hostas I've ever ordered online. Service was fantastic. Great communication, and the hostas arrived quickly and in great condition. Follow-up is superb. I would definitely order from Rob again. Thanks!
I had ordered from other "nurseries" who were so disappointing I didn't know whether to trust another one or not. I'm glad I did! Made in the Shade sent a wonderful plant and has a clever way of shipping so the plant is not damaged in shipment. I would never hesitate to order from Made in the Shade!
I phoned Made in the Shade and asked them some questions before making my choice on my hostas, even a question about an hosta they didn't have, they give me the name of the nursery that carry it. They answered with kindness not even sure I will give them an order. I finally a few days later, ordered 3 hostas that arrived today in tiptop shape after being notice by an email that it should arrive today. That is great service and good quality hostas. It was my first time but not my last time I will order with them, Thanks you Rob, Marie-Helene
On Jul 17, 2009, redneckwynn Great Falls, MT wrote:
I have bought hostas before but I was tired of the "box store" lack of variety in hosta choices. I found Made in the Shade and liked the variety and colors I have to choose from. I was skeptical about buying plant material from an internet site, so I did weigh the comments made by previous customers and I was not disappointed. My plants arrived in 2 days, in excellant shape with a healthy root system and they are doing well in my garden. I am now hooked and I will be ordering more from Rob in the future.
On Jul 16, 2009, theirislady Sandwich, MA (Zone 6a) wrote:
I ordered plants to surprise my 'hostaholic' husband on his birthday. They arrived in 2 days in beautiful shape and he was quite happy. Personal note from Rob at Made in the Shade and great all round service. Will definitely order from them again and tell all my 'hosta-lovin' friends.
On July 8, 2009 I ordered my first Ghost Spirit and received a beautiful Hosta on July 15th. Packing was wonderful and received plant in excellent condition.
I would highly recommend ordering from this company.
I saw and fell in love with the hosta "Stitch In Time". After checking around I discovered Rob at "hostaguy.com". Even though the hosta was unavailable at the time, by leaving my name and phone no., Rob was able to quickly locate and fill my order. I received it without delay and was delighted to see it was healthy, a commendable size for a baby and fit the description perfectly. After planting, it has come along
very nicely and will be a beautiful addition to my garden. I have since given a friend the name of this shop, Made in the Shade Gardens, and she was delighted.
A friend saw my 'Just So' hosta and remarked that it just "popped" among the other blue and green hostas. She said I should have a couple more. Having had the 'Just So' for a few years and having no idea where it came from, I was doubtful of being able to find more. Made in the Shade came to the rescue! Rob sent two beautiful starts which arrived very promptly and in excellent condition. The roots were neatly wrapped in plastic wrap and the plants were then wrapped in newspaper. I knew when to expect them and met the mailman at the box! The hostas are potted up until I make a place for them by digging up some campanula. Thanks for the great service and great hostas, Rob.
On Jun 21, 2009, ceeceesgarden Lawrence, KS wrote:
This was a very positive experience. Excellent customer service! The hostas were shipped with care and arrived quickly. I received nice, healthy plants with beautiful root systems. Rob was great to work with. I will certainly order again!
On Jun 11, 2009, Raisa Memphis, TN (Zone 7b) wrote:
I destroyed my two beautiful Fire and Ice hostas for this season. Hopefuly they will be back next season. ..Just in case, I ordered replacements from Made in the Shade. (I absolutely love these hostas and wanted more anyway.) ..I placed my order on June 1st ..they were shipped on June 8th ..I received them on the 10th. ..They arrived via Fed Ex with beautiful and healthy bareroots and a wonderful crown of growth. The box was a surprise for me and I thought, "There's no way any plant can be in there. It's the wrong shape. ..The wrong size." ..Wrong. They were in there ..and with not a blemish to be found. .. I adore hostas and will definitely be using Made in the Shade again in the future.
What excellent service!! Rob was most congenial and persistent in getting my order placed. I ordered "sweet innocence" and planted them in several days. The hostas were shipped in great condition. I found their ad in the magazine "Fine Gardening." If you like a huge variety of hostas, this is the place to buy them!! Thanks again for a wonderful purchasing experience.
Perfect -- ordered 3 Tokudama 'Flavocircinalis', 2 'Bright Lights', 3 Sieboldiana elegans, and 2 Blue Mouse Ears. The Bright Lights were a substitution for 2 Tokudama 'Aureonebulosa' -- I would have preferred these, but the Bright Lights are certainly good -- I'll just get the Aureos locally or from Made in the Shade next year.
The hostas arrived in such small packages I was amazed at how great of condition they were in. They all arrived with enormous root systems, and started sprouting immediately after planting. I'll definitely be a repeat customer.
On May 28, 2009, PadreWayne Mount Pleasant, MI (Zone 4b) wrote:
Location: Mid-Michigan ("The Middle of the Mitten"), zone 4-5
Ordered 7 hostas, emphasis on fragrant-flower varieties (I'm hooked on the little animals!): here's my experience.
1) Ordering is easy -- the website is great, with so many hostas I was nearly overwhelmed. But they are well-categorized (color, size, fragrance [which is what I was looking for, being totally wow'ed by a Guacamole a friend gave me]) and each one has a full description;
2) Payment via PayPal is easy;
3) Rob at MitS e-mailed a prompt acknowledgment of my order (on Monday, a holiday, at an early hour yet!) and payment (actually, within an hour or less!);
4) Rob at MitS corresponded as to shipping date and method;
5) Plants arrived right on time and are in very good condition.
MitS probably isn't the cheapest place to buy hostas, and I will fill in with smaller more common varieties next month, but I could not be happier with the selection, the service, and the quality of the plants.
On June 5th, 2009, PadreWayne added the following:
Follow-up a week later: Every one of Rob's plants have taken root and each one now has two to FIVE new leaves -- all in the space of a week! I'm very impressed. Wish I could take credit for fine gardening, but I'll credit Made in the Shade Gardens. And no, they're not paying me for these ravings! :-)
This is a great place to buy hosta. The initial and followup email correspondence was helpful and personal, shipping was prompt and the plants were so fresh and healthy that they looked as if they'd never left the ground. I am very very impressed. I will definitely order from them again. I cannot speak as highly of any of the dozens of other plant places I have ordered from, ever.
On May 27, 2009, Janeena Saint Charles, MO (Zone 6a) wrote:
My first order with Made in the Shade was exceptional. I received very timely email responses to my questions and my plants arrived as promised and as ordered. They were packaged very well. Their customer service is extraordinary and much appreciated. Thanks, Rob and crew!
On May 26, 2009, gardener662 Glen Ellyn, IL wrote:
Recently I was in hot pursuit of some beautiful hostas that I couldn't find locally. I chose Made in the Shade because of all the favorable reports on the Garden Watchdog. The hostas arrived with healthy root systems and big, gorgeous leaves. Made in the Shade has excellent customer service ranging from prompt emails regarding my order to answering a question I had regarding a hosta that I didn't know the name of. I am completely satisfied, thrilled to find this company, and will order from them again!
My order for five hostas was made late in the season. This outstanding nursery did everything in the best ways possible. From a quick e-mail to say that they received my order (which included a ship date), to the priority mail shipment, to another e-mail asking if I was pleased. The plants were beautiful with outstanding root systems. In my opinion, this is the place to go if you want to buy hostas that look like they will take off like a rocket in your garden. In case you havn't noticed--this is a "rave" review.
On May 23, 2009, CaryColorado Colorado Springs, CO wrote:
In the search to find unique Hostas I discovered Made in the Shade Gardens online. Their catalog of Hostas blew me away! I made a long list, then narrowed it down several times there were so many choices and selected 6 plants of 4 varieties (Fantabulous, Ginko Craig, Masquerade, and Permanent Wave). I made my order in March with instructions to ship in May. The order was processed promptly and shipped on the exact date I asked in May. I received a shipping notice and a follow-up e-mail after shipping. I was a bit shocked to see the plants arrived in a Priority mail triangular poster tube, but upon opening the box it made perfect sense. The bare-root plants were in perfect condition, upright and moist. Instructions came with the plants for planting...just in case. The plants are now beginning to settle in their home, I cant wait to see them in their glory this summer.
I've ordered from Made in the Shade several times. The orders have been sent quickly and the hostas have always arrived in great condition. All have done well and are flourishing. I've also appreciated being able to ask questions and receive helpful answers.
Customer service is excellent. The plants arrive on the date promised as well as receivng an email from the company announcing the expected arrival date. Plants arrive in a healthy condition, ready to plant. Satisfied customer all the way around. Given all of the above, I will continue to be a repeat customer !
On May 19, 2009, spadesofglory Mcdonough, GA (Zone 7b) wrote:
I ordered 3 hostas from Made in the Shade and was completely satisfied with the plants, the packaging, and the service. It's always a good sign when a merchant actually contacts you to be sure you're happy! I have a whole list of hostas I plan to add to my 'collection', and I'm thrilled to have discovered this fabulous source!
I can't imagine how my online shopping experience could have been better. Their website is very complete, loaded with information, easy to access and they offer an incredible variety of hostas. Response to questions was rapid as well as the turnaround on my order. I had some apprehension about getting the plants bareroot but they arrived in perfect condition and stayed so for the two days planting was delayed on account of rain.
When I ordered 9 hostas from Rob's website I received a prompt response and an email when they were shipped and to check on their arrival. This is great service and much appreciated. The plants arrived by Fedex and were in great condition and quickly found new homes in our garden. Rob was also nice enough to answer a question I had on finding the names of some of our existing hostas. Thanks Rob!!
I ordered 4 hostas, which arrived promptly, and in excellent condition. They are of good size, and were packed very well. I will definitely order from here again, if I can make room for any more!
I received my first order today and the plants are in wonderful shape. I trusted this site as I first found them listed as a source for hosta plants on the American Hosta Society web site. After placing my order I received a nice email confirming my order, another to tell me when it would be shipped, another when it was shipped and then another one again to tell me what day to expect it... I emailed them to tell them the plants arrived in perfect condition, and received one last message to thank me for my order. Fantastic communication... I will certainly be ordering more plants from this business and I am extremely pleased with my choice of this vendor. I highly recommend this source for plants.
P.
On May 8, 2009, psychloman Brooklyn, NY (Zone 7a) wrote:
I recently orderd Hostas Sagae and Big Daddy as a gift for a friend. I am impressed by hte quick service and the value for the money.I am a satisfied customer and so is my friend.
On Apr 30, 2009, kottwalter McGaheysville, VA wrote:
My Empress Wu hosta's arrived yesterday and were in perfect condition with an amazing root structure. Rob was very attentive and helpful with my purchase. I can't wait to purchase more and tell my fellow hosta lovers about Made in the Shade.
beautiful, large plants at a more than reasonable price. 15 hostas that just took off and flourished. I could not be more pleased. Wonderful customer service to top it off.
At last---a company that actually delivers on its promises! As I told Rob, the service from his company was absolutely impeccable. I could not have been more pleased with the delivery or the shape of the plants when they arrived. I've already told several friends about Rob's business, and I won't hesitate to order again!
I ordered three hostas early in the season and Dave immediately got back to me to select a shipping date. I was notified prior to shipping and the plants arrived in perfect condition with NO damage. The hosta were nice size and had a large healthy root system. I highly recommend Made in The Shade Gardens as a source of healthy hostas.
The plants were extremely well packaged and are doing great since being planted. Their communications regarding my order were excellent as well. Shortly after planting, I emailed them with a question and received a reply within a couple of hours. I very highly recommend this company.
Just received my plants and they are beautiful. Hard to believe that 5 hostas ship in a US mail box, but they were wonderfully packed! I received regular updates regarding shipping and got them within 2 days of leaving Kansas City. Great job!
Hostas were shipped at the time they were promised. They even notified me ahead of time that they were coming. Plants were shipped priority mail. Plants were green and healthy on receipt. I am delighted.
