Monday, August 13, 2018

In an owl on Monday (it was an Amazon experiment)...

My brother-in-law and his family sent me an Amazon Gift Card for my birthday in July. I thought about ordering one of the many books on my wish-list, but I've already got a hefty stack of books in my "to read" pile, including two from Timber Press which I am supposed to write a review on. And since I was hankering for a couple more Bromeliads (for the Bromeliad tree project) well, my eyes strayed to the plants...

Yes I know, ordering plants from Amazon is basically selling your gardening — independent nursery loving — soul to the devil. It's one step up from buying plants at Walmart, or wait, is that one step down? Anyway, I shopped, I ordered, and the plants arrived 4 days later.

Opening them up my eyes were immediately drawn to that "FREE Plant w/ Every Order" line. Reading on I realized that was only if you signed up for the monthly subscription box offered by the House Plant Shop, which I am not going to do. The thought makes me shudder, but then again I guess am glad the option exists for those that are interested...hoping it pulls them further and further into the plant-loving world where they end up needing to visit local nurseries (praying they have a couple) and pick out plants with their own eyes and hands. But I digress...

There was also the "free care guide" which was noted as a selling point when I made my order. As I read it a feeling of horror came over me, people are going to severely burn their Bromeliads!!! Then I remembered they're writing this guide from a houseplant perspective. Okay.

On to the peanuts, oh wait, I mean the plants. There are plants in there...

The "Guzmania Bromeliad 'White' - Live House Plant - 1FT Tall - FREE Care Guide - 4" Pot - HARD TO KILL" arrived looking a little, disheveled. Poor thing. I wasn't too worried, a little light and standing upright would hopefully having it feeling good soon.

The second plant, a "Live Bromeliad 'Medusa' in Pot - Live Plant - FREE Care Guide - 4" Pot" (yikes...it's not HARD TO KILL!?) seemed rather unfazed by the shipping thing.

A day later and it's looking rather fabulous.

The Guzmania Bromeliad 'White' also seems to be perking up...

...and has been given pride of place behind the kitchen sink, in my Mr. Owl planter.

Mr Owl was the container for a gift bouquet I received from a group of ladies who toured my garden in late July, wasn't the arrangement lovely? Normally an animal planter (or vase) wouldn't speak to me, but Mr Owl is special.


Obviously since Mr. Owl is now holding a Bromeliad.

Weather Diary, Aug 12: Hi 78, Low 62/ Precip 0 (but we got .01" on Saturday, ha...)

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

22 comments:

  1. Hmmm...I've occasionally been tempted to buy plants through some vendor or other on Amazon, but I've never done it. You're brave. It looks great in Mr. Owl.

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    1. Would I have done it without a gift certificate? Never. So not so brave, really.

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  2. That's a great but still refined planter, and the bromeliad looks great in it! Such a perfect subdued palette.

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  3. Anything is possible via the internet! Enjoy your new additions. :)

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  4. Love both of your owl displays. And glad to read what a serious gardener experienced with Amazon. Have to agree that it is embarrassing for gardeners in our league to order plants from Amazon. But one never knows what one will find there . . .

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    1. I'm not worried about the embarrassment factor so much, I just want to support the independent nurseries whenever possible.

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  5. I'm already fond of your Mr. Owl so I hope we'll see more of him. He looks elegant with his white Guzmania.

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    1. I'm sure he'll appear again every now and then...

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  6. I've never ordered plants through Amazon, though I have been tempted. I'm pleasantly surprised at the quality. The disheveled look is to be expected when fitting these kinds of plants in a box. You know the naming makes me cringe, though. At least the Neoregelia has a real name, 'Medusa'. The poor Guzmania just has a description, "white", masquerading as a cultivar name. I love the owl planter!

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    1. There was no attempt to secure the pots so they were free to move about the box. That was fine when the box was on its side, but when stood on end then the one of the plants was going to smash its own leaves against the box due to the weight of the pot being on top, I think that's what happened to the Guzmania. Such a simple thing to get right, if the seller cared to.

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  7. I've never ordered plants from Amazon. I totally understand your concerns but heck, it's no worse than buying plants at Lowe's or The Home Depot (which I'm guily of)! BTW, that white guzmania is AWESOME.

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    1. Yes, the big-box comparison came to mind, and I'm guilty too!

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  8. That was some beautiful bouquet (aren't you glad when visitors ignore that whole 'coals to Newcastle' thing?). Mr Owl seems to adapt well to whatever you choose to put in him.
    rickii

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    1. Oh ricki, you are amazing. Where do you come up with these things!? Of course I had to look up "coals to Newcastle"...now that I know what it means I do love it when it's ignored!

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  9. Love the Guzmanina very much ! Mr Owl looks pretty fetching with his brom top-knot.

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    1. Ha! Now that's what I will think every time I look at it.

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  10. The White Guzmania looks wonderful in the owl. The Medusa reminds me of christmas, which is just something I refuse to do right now.

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  11. Your bromeliads perked up really well and Mr. Owl looks great with both the flowers and the bromeliad! The visiting ladies obviously gave him to you because you're so wise. I've never ordered from Amazon but have found a lot of great agaves and cacti on Ebay and even a few on Etsy.

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    1. Andrew buys gifts for me from Etsy, I've never bought anything there. I've come close, but the shipping $ always turns me away.

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