Help with Sending Bulbs to Russia

[tonyg]

I received an unusual enquiry today, reproduced below.  Any suggestions welcome.  I have replied suggesting corms which are cheap here.  Are they obtainable there?  Will they grow there?  Perhaps a Russian forumist can help?  Mad and impulsive I may be but I want to help him!

I was born in Russia. I live in city of Togliatti (near city of Samara) on a coast of the Great Russian River Volga near the National Park Samarskaja Luka.

My wife works the teacher in the children's house.

She works with children to her very much it is pleasant. Children very much love her.

She in group has miscellaneous children. Basically it is children stayed without of the parents.

We want to frame in the children's house a small garden.

That these children could see these interesting plants and learn about them.

Where they grow?

Could you help me, please?

I want to ask at you slightly Crocus seeds for a children's house.

Children very much want more to learn about interesting plants.

Whether you can send me slightly seeds ?

I'll be very grateful.

Be so are kind doing not give up to me in my request

[Diane Clement]

Very interesting, Tony, I've had this e-mail several times over the last year or so and I am not sure how genuine it is.  On the letter he sent me he has specified he wanted Arisaema seeds which seem an unusual choice for a children's garden.  Has anyone else had this email?  It doesn't completely ring true to me, maybe I've had too many other dodgy e-mails

[tonyg]

Thanks Diane.  On a forum like this you are never alone! 
I am not entirely surprised - perhaps he is building up stock for a nursery .... but not for children.
Why would he ask you for Arisaema?  I have a Crocus web site with the email he used linked but when I think of you I don't automatically think of Ariseama!

...... Now there's an idea for Maggi's mad Christmas quiz.  Forumist-Plant associations - real or imagined. 

[Diane Clement]

Thanks Diane.  On a forum like this you are never alone!  
I am not entirely surprised - perhaps he is building up stock for a nursery .... but not for children.
Why would he ask you for Arisaema?  I have a Crocus web site with the email he used linked but when I think of you I don't automatically think of Ariseama!
...... Now there's an idea for Maggi's mad Christmas quiz.  Forumist-Plant associations - real or imagined.  

So, Tony, what do you think me in association with??      
Actually, I am on Arisaema-L and in the Arisaema Enthusiast Group but he used my agsgroups e-mail address so presumably got me from the AGS seed list site.  He's asked me for Arisaemas twice (I think) and something else that I have now forgotten.  

Always up for a quiz .... but where to start ...

[tonyg]

Diane - Cyclamen ...... but I'm sure others will have other ideas

[Diane Clement]

Diane - Cyclamen ...... but I'm sure others will have other ideas    

Can't imagine why   
but seeing as how you mentioned ...

just happened to be in Ashwood's polytunnel last weekend

[David Pilling]

There is a similar posting at:

http://members3.boardhost.com/seedtrading/msg/1231090521.html

doesn't mean it isn't genuine though.

[shelagh]

How many of those pans did you manage to slide into your poachers pockets?

[Diane Clement]

How many of those pans did you manage to slide into your poachers pockets? 

I tried ... I tried ...  (there're BIG pans)

[tonyg]

There is a similar posting at:

http://members3.boardhost.com/seedtrading/msg/1231090521.html

doesn't mean it isn't genuine though.

Curiouser and curiouser.
I decided to call his bluff and emailed asking for photos of the garden etc.  In reply I received a selction of photos, all apparently taken on the same camera.  They seem genuine ..... so is the story also genuine  
What do you think?

[Janis Ruksans]

There is a similar posting at:

http://members3.boardhost.com/seedtrading/msg/1231090521.html

doesn't mean it isn't genuine though.

Curiouser and curiouser.
I decided to call his bluff and emailed asking for photos of the garden etc.  In reply I received a selction of photos, all apparently taken on the same camera.  They seem genuine ..... so is the story also genuine  
What do you think?

I don't trust to such Russian's. Such look in Russia has private garden.
Janis

[Diane Clement]

Curiouser and curiouser.
I decided to call his bluff and emailed asking for photos of the garden etc.  In reply I received a selction of photos, all apparently taken on the same camera.  They seem genuine ..... so is the story also genuine  
What do you think?   

I just think it's odd to ask for Arisaema, Crocus and palm seeds for a children's garden.   

[tonyg]

Diane - I agree.  It was late at night and I had my 'believe the best of everyone' head on when I started this thread.  Like you and Janis my thoughts now are that this is not what it makes out to be.  He's clearly a gardener with kids ... just like me.  Pity if he cannot be entirely straight with the rest of us.  Perhaps it says something of the outlook on life over there that he cannot just ask for the plants for the plants sake.  A lack of belief in our potential for altruism.

[mark smyth]

I would block his email address or ask some of the Russian forum members to ask what he wants

[tonyg]

I would block his email address or ask some of the Russian forum members to ask what he wants

I have done one of these things but I think he's harmless.