I typically order plants from several sources every spring, and they usually come through the shipping process well. Most growers are careful to use recycled materials, or things that can be reused or composted. Only occasionally does a box arrive with styrofoam packing peanuts that have mixed with loose dirt and plant pieces…making the unpacking a choice between getting the dirt and packaging all over the house or watching the wind carry the dreaded styrofoam out into the gardens.
This spring I decided to grow some Salvia mexicana ‘Limelight’ again, so I ordered them from Annie’s Annuals & Perennials. I was so impressed with the way that they, and the other plants I ordered, were packaged that I’m singing this company’s praises here. Kudos to you, Annie’s!
Here is one end of the box that arrived. The plants were in separate cardboard cells, two per area. These kept them from moving around but didn’t squash the foliage which was, as you can see, well-developed when the plants were shipped.
The dirt was held in the pots by a piece of waxed paper held on with rubber bands. On close inspection I saw that this paper was actually a large size waxed paper bag, similar to what people used to wrap sandwiches in “back in the day.”
The plants look great. Did you pay extra for over night delivery? Regardless the packaging was exemplary.
Great question, Nancy! No, I didn’t pay extra for over-night. In fact, I’ve had plants shipped Fedex overnight that have arrived in worse shape than these! This shipment was their normal delivery schedule – that’s why the packing was so impressive. Job well done!
Annie’s the best!