Online plant deliveries from France - still working?

Nollie

I have gaps I want to fill and a wish list, but do any of our French members know if things are still working? I am looking at Promesse de Fleurs and Brittany Perennials. The Spanish end is often subject to delays anyway but I wondered if the French end is holding up and whether to risk it? On the one hand, I don’t want to stop giving them my business during tricky financial times, on the other hand, I don’t want dead plants!

JennyJ

I received a package from Germany today that was only ordered on Wednesday (not plants - a headset for skype meetings to make working from home easier) so international freight in general is still working at least to some extent. I guess email the nurseries and ask.

Obelixx

Sorry Nollie.  Haven't ordered anything recently so can't help.

floralies

Hi @Nollie, I am going to try an order from Promesse de Fleurs today. As far as i know they are still delivering. I will post later and let you know.

Nollie

Hi, thanks everyone. Having checked (duh!) both websites say they are operating as normal, but with a few day’s delay in dispatch for PdeF. I suppose it’s more of an issue how their courier services are working and whether there is going to be delays due to high demand, hence plants languishing in distribution depots. I am also wondering if it is being selfish ordering plants when the couriers might be needed for essential supplies. 

floralies

@Nollie, I have made an order with P de Fl and as you say the deliveries are taking longer than usual. There were a lot of plants/seeds unavailable, I thought I would see what vegetable seeds there were but there was nothing much available. I do wonder what the nursery down the road from me are going to do with all their flower and veg plants it seems such a shame.

Nollie

Thanks @floralies, I fear many small businesses will struggle or go bankrupt, but I’m hoping the plant suppliers and garden centres can keep plants alive until they are allowed to reopen or grow them on for next year, at least. Here the GC’s that sell pet food are allowed to open that section, but not sell plants or anything else. At least that means there will be some staff working and hopefully able to water existing plant stock. They also rely on their floristry service -  a big slice of their business is supplying arrangements for weddings and events, so that will be a big financial hit since such gatherings won’t be allowed under lockdown restrictions.

Delays in dispatch from the nursery are ok, but I have decided to live with the border gaps and not risk trusting plants to overstretched couriers. Hope yours arrive ok.

Camelliad

A month late on this one but just updating to say that I recently placed an order with Brittany Perennials and all turned up beautifully packaged, in super condition within a few days. So still delivering and would recommend!

Nollie

Hi @Camelliad, Pleased you got your plants safely. I love Brittany Perennials, the plants are always of excellent quality, the pots weed-free and, as you say, so carefully packaged in straw and biodegradable starch packing nuggets. Much superior to Promesse de Fleurs, IMHO, although the latter do have a far greater range. Sadly, it’s really too late for me. I need to order March at the latest, when plants are still dormant, otherwise they arrive dead due to heat/rubbish couriers in the Spanish link in the delivery chain - they will let them languish for weeks in the depot before bothering to deliver them. Phillipe kindly gave me a full refund for a large order previously (pre corona virus) even though it wasn’t his fault, good man!