>Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 20:06:57 -0800
>To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
>From: "Michael D. Barclay" <opga1@dsp.net>
>Subject: Heronswood
>Cc:
>Bcc:
>X-Attachments:
>
>Dear Friends, January 6, 1998
>
>How could I miss such a tempest in a teapot. Heronswood is no better or
>worse than most mailorder nurseries. I don't own any mailorder nursery but deal with dozens and can say the following supported truths:
>
>ABOUT HERONSWOOD
>
>1) Year one -1992 went to H with JT. I spend $1,200., J.T. $680.00
> and was like a kid in a candy store.
>
> a) survival rate- 60% - poor
> b) id accuracy rate-75% fair
> c) poorly rooted - 80% of woodies (it was Oct. and we were warned!).
> d) Neither Dan nor Robert who'd invited us was the least
> hospitable. Too many distractions, lectures & more important
> people.
> e) Big fuss over Watakaka
>
>2) Year two -no replacements or apologies and DH no longer wished communication
> with me. I was to deal with Robert. (They'd both been to my garden with SG)
> Bewteen SG, MB, & JT survival of orders was 65%. I did worst.
>
>3) Plants began appearing in the calalog under obsolete names-RODGERSIA
> henrici (syn. pinnata); LEPTOSPERMUM cunninghamiana (syn. lanigera), etc.
>
>4) Marshall Olbrich was planning an article on this very issue when he died.
>
>5) Each year smaller orders from me with 65-75% survival while my continued
> orders to Forest Farm brought 95% survival and cost 25-40% less!!
>
>6) The catalog is a work of art and love and DH is a plant "maven" but
> everything has gone far too fast.
>
>7) DH gives excellent lecture for CH. Now no longer affordable-honorarium\
> now $1,500!
>
>8) DH now demi-god. Writing big book. Plants have realistic names but aren't
> what you ordered. I have a huge Stachyurus praecox (chartreuse flowers)
> so ordered newly offered species with Red-Pink blooms. Plant blooms first
> year. Flowers were washed out yellow!!!
>
>9) Went Hellebore crazy in 1997. Disappointed by all received from DH.
> Did much better through friends in PCNW & especially Collectors' Nurs.
>
>10)I still plan to order from H., BUT the majority of my Wash & OR orders
> will go to FF, and GF and Collectors' where I have received better
> plants, treatment, followup, etc.
>
>I do not wish to discourage anyone from studying DH's catalog or buying from the extraordinary nursery. A visit is a must.But NB Rosa 'Moyesii Geranium' & "Moyesii' aff. Caveat emptor!
>
>MDB
>
>
>
>