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Re: [GWL]: Information from trades

Title: Re: [GWL]: Information from trades
You know Jeff, I understand the conflict you described and have some comments:

I really appreciate the people who send me a postcard asking if I'd like to try plants or tools -- it helps me decide what  I want.

I find it incredibly annoying to receive unsolicited plants for a couple of reasons -- one being that the plants are not always appropriate for my climate or do not interest me and I feel terrible sending them to the compost pile if I cannot find someone  to give them to.

But beyond that, it has to do with how the items arrive and are presented.  Last year, I got a package of plants from Springhill Nursery.  Bareroot roses, begonias, and petunias that were not of particular interest to me.  The plants arrived with no cover letter, no labels, no explanation of who sent them or why.  The only identifying factors were a Springhill catalog and the label on one rose which said:  Lillian Vernon.  Lillian Vernon is a mail order company that sells chachkes (that's "junk" in Yiddish).  I searched my rose databases and found no variety named Lillian Vernon.  So why was it labeled such?

The problem, again, was information and education.  And in this case, PR and good common sense.

On the other hand, the All American Daylily Council does a great job of getting their products into my hands, with appropriate presentation and explanation and the plants work well.


I would love to test new plants and products but it seems to me that the process would be far more efficient if in fact, the plants and products went to folks who were a) interested in them and b) could use them.   What does Spring Meadow have to offer?

Regarding payment, I don't want to pay to test things -- For one thing, I'd go broke rapidly.  But beyond that, I fell no obligation to write about any item I receive gratis that is not worthy of a good review.  If that company wants to know why I didn't include their item, I am happy to share that information.

A new product column in the GWAA newsletter would be great -- we could trade off doing it if you'd like.  Everyone take a turn or a committee could, that way, one person wouldn't shoulder the entire burden.

And regarding Earth Budeze -- yes they are cool tools.  I am testing one right now.

One more thought.  The PR folks play a role in this issue as well.  Not just in paving the way for us to receive well presented products, but also in following up in a way that is not overwhelming.  I so often receive a product to test and then face an onslaught of follow-up letters.  I've gotten to the point where I avoid some companies because their follow-up is more like harrassment than follow-up.

Thank you for allowing me to rant.  It is not even 8 am.  Maybe I'm reacting to the earthquake that hit at midnight last night.

Nan
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Nan Sterman                     PlantSoup
205 Cole Ranch Road            
Olivenhain, CA 92024            760.634.2902 (voice)   
NSterman@PlantSoup.Com          760.634.2957 (fax)

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