I would actually suggest you reconsider ordering from PIN since you are further North. They have decent stock, and lower prices than some others. However, if you are able to get a ride, there are closer nurseries to you with larger selections. For example, Top Tropicals, which I have just about had it with for shipping, but is probably a great place to pick up in person. You might want to ask around for other options closer to you. Also, if you have specific plants you want, maybe we can all help you here to figure out where to get them nearby at the best price. Shipping will include distance, so it's possible that you can still get a better deal with a closer nursery, even if their prices are normally on the high side. Even if you cant get a ride, many nurseries in Florida carry a decent selection of tropical fruits - not many of the rare ones though - and probably about 50% of larger nurseries will DELIVER plants to your door for a lower cost than shipping, if you live within one or two counties of them. Additionally, of course, opportunities like the Rare Fruit Council might offer a great choice, too!
What specifically do you think you want?
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On another note, this forum is not moderated for rudeness the way other forums are, although I have suggested numerous times that the owners rethink this policy because it scares a large percentage of people off of posting, and off of becoming members - which ultimately means dissuading many prospective people from becoming involved with tropical fruits. Many members maintain a combative tone and get wrapped up in their ego, as well as post a lot of sexist and racist comments that really have nothing to do with fruit, which particularly puts off female posters and people of diverse cultures from feeling comfortable joining in discussions here. I continue to get comments from people behind the scenes in PM who don't feel comfortable posting to the actual forum for help, who are under the impression that at least I am somebody who won't bite your head off for having a question. Another thread was just locked yesterday because I dared to suggest to a different member that perhaps people stealing berries was not worth shooting or poisoning someone over, and multiple people went absolutely ballistic over me daring to suggest that murder was uncalled for, casting a few racial and ethnic aspersions and making insane political statements for good measure, into a thread which should have had absolutely nothing to do with either. Those posters never seem to have any repercussions for posting such inflammatory and offensive stuff that offends other members and prospective members. But the thread was locked.
So, I would say, welcome! and the more friendly people post here, the less power the crazies have! But, I do understand that being around such vicious judgment and anger for no reason is not really a good selling point to continuing on a forum that is supposed to be about the joy of growing tropical fruit. If you choose to keep posting, you will not be alone in believing this is a forum to be polite and to help others, rather than to criticize and to act superior to others. People here criticize everything from your choices in fruit variety to the way you write your posts, to what religion they believe you to have, and many do NOT appreciate hearing a differing viewpoint. Most of them, from my perspective, are overbearing and abusive older men with incredibly fragile egos. But, not everyone here is like that. So if you choose to keep posting, there are others here who will defend you, and your right to have whatever opinion you have, or to ask whatever question you want to. But I still find this a strangely angry forum for people who spend their whole day growing plants.
