Knowing what you like is a good thing. Trying something new is a good thing. Heading into the fall and thinking about spring bulbs I have to think about both things. One of my most favorite bulbs is Allium Shubertii.
Growing at the top of the path to the bottom garden in my old garden it never failed to amaze. In the late spring the leaves would show up and then the blooms fast behind. As the season ramps up the blooms loose their purple and become a wonderful honey color. I always pick them and bring them indoors. The uses indoors are unlimited. I use them as sculpture, spray them with white paint and glitter, (watch for them in gather post coming up), and stack them in old wooden troughs with other drying foliage. A must have for my new garden. Beware where you plant them. A customer in the city complained that passerby’s stole the bloom and even the bulbs from the planting by the sidewalk. Addictive is a word to describe this bulb!
Another must have is a species tulip batalini. There are two cultivars available one is bright gem and the other is bronze charm.
image from Pacific Bulb Society
image from tulipbulbs.com
This sweet little tulip is perfect for the edge of a path. I like it up on an edge of a rock wall that you walk past. I planted 6 several years ago and they multiplied to about 25. They like quick drainage, are drought tolerant and surprisingly deer resistant. For some reason this usual deer candy (tulips) is not a favorite. I love not worrying about them at all. Slugs don’t care about them and as you are walking by them they seem to pop up out of nowhere to cheer and surprise you.
This year on my new list is a couple of items from the tulip blog this past spring. www.Tulips.com is the website for the Skagit Valley tulip festival bulb producer, Roozengaarde, that sells the bulbs you see in the fields. My tries this year will be a parrot tulip called Irene, orange with reddish purple flames.
Irene at www.tulips.com
Another Species Tulip called clusiana Carmine, red with white edge (looks like the same cultivation as the Batalini tulip). They should be really great.
Clusiana at www.tulips.com
Sometimes there are special cultivars that are developed and tested one of which is the Ice Cream Tulip. I’m not sure that it will be a hit or not. It is dark pink on the outside of the tulip and has a raised section in the middle that looks like ice cream in a dish. Check it out and tell me what you think.
Ice Cream Tulip at www.tulips.com
At the Northwest Flower and Garden Show Last year one of the other gardens had a beautiful white tulip that was forced from the gardens in the Skagit Valley. Tulip ‘The Edge’ was amazing. It has great foliage with a small white edge of color on the leaves and pure white bloom.
The Edge at www.tulips.com
I ordered them last week and they were delivered today with instructions to plant immediately. I waited to order because it has been warm here. Sometimes if you put spring bulbs in the ground too soon they will start to sprout. We get some good cold weather but this year it hasn’t been cold yet. Gardeners in warmer climates will have to chill in a refrigerator and plant about 12 weeks before you want them to bloom. Good instructions for planting in warm climates is available on the website.
Valley Nursery had a new tulip on the shelves when I went to get bamboo for a customer. (always a danger). Tulip ‘Clouds of Cotton’ looks to be really beautiful. They have a new home in one of my new planting beds. I’ll be looking forward to seeing the blooms and reporting on how they do.
image from www.pikenursery.com
Here is a note to other on-line shoppers. I have ordered from other on-line bulb places in the past. I have not had good luck from the so-called discount bulb sellers. Last year the bulbs I ordered for the garden show had a less than 50% germination rate. Other garden creators had ordered from a local source and they had great success. I would have to say BUY LOCAL!
