I sent this to a friend from out of town - let's call her Friend #1. When I ordered it, Overstock gave me a Gift Message field, which I promply filled out and confirmed. Found it unusual that my gift to Friend #1 was never acknowleged, even weeks later. Thankfully, I had mentioned to a mutual friend - we'll say Friend #2 - that I sent it, because, at a function with Friend #1, Friend #2 relayed to me that Friend #1 loudly asked the group at her table, "DID ANYONE HERE SEND ME AN IVY TOPIARY? IF NOT, DO YOU KNOW WHO DID?" Yep. Totally defeated the point of a gift message...and for that matter, defeated the point of the topiary. I didn't mean to send an anonymous gift...I wanted her to know there were friends thinking of her through this difficult time in her life, which is why I sent it in the first place. Until Friend #2 confirmed to Friend #1 that I sent it, she thought it was an accident. I may continue to order from Overstock for items for myself, but never, never, never for a gift to be sent to others. That's a shame, because the prices are really good -- but I'll pay the extra money to have my gift message actually included.