My Spring Bulbs
April 15, 2008
Okay, so I chickened out on dividing my rhubarb this weekend though in my defense it was really cold and rainy and I spent most of my time indoors sowing seeds. It was so cold it snowed.
Last fall I decided that I was going to try planting bulbs for some nice colour early this spring. I was really concerned about squirrels digging the bulbs up so after I planted them I cut up some chicken wire and laid pieces of it over the soil held down at the corners with rocks. It worked and this spring there’s been a lot of bulb action pushing its way up through the soil.
Here is some Saffron Crocus crocus sativus (fall flowering) bulbs coming through:
Dwarf Tulipa:
Darwin hybrid Apeldoorn Tulips in a very grid-like planting pattern:
Very orderly Allium ‘Gladiator’:
Grape hyacinths muscari armeniacum:
One lone Narcissus ‘Dick Wilden’:
Not shown is some Snake’s Head Iris hermodactylus tuberosa and Narcissus Gigantic Star ‘Ice Follies’. I’m glad they’re all coming up and I’m looking forward to seeing how they all bloom this season.
April 15, 2008 at 5:16 pm
saffron crocus will grow here? Be still my wildly beating heart! I love the gladiators in formation. Your hens and chicks look adorable at the bottom too.
April 15, 2008 at 11:59 pm
I hope you continue to photograph these lovelies as they grow and bloom.
April 16, 2008 at 8:22 am
Ottawa Gardener,
I picked the saffron crocus up in the States and smuggled it across the border. Actually, most of my bulbs except the Apeldoorn and the Snake’s Head Iris are from south of the border. I’m pretty happy with the hens and chicks and will be relocating my sempervivum arachnoideum from its partial shade and drafty location in the front to this luxurious full sun spot.
Nancybond,
I’m pretty excited about all the bulbs, especially the alliums as they’re so pom-pom-ish. One thing I want to find is the narcissus of my childhood. I remember it used to grow underneath the maple tree in our front yard and they had a lovely scent and were so pretty.
April 16, 2008 at 9:09 am
Your blog name is hysterical! Check out my rhubarb posts… I will stop by again…
April 16, 2008 at 11:07 am
I still have several feet of snow on my front garden bed. The result of having a very small front yard, and a whole let of snowplows piling it on this past winter. So I will live vicariously through your bulbs until mine finally see the light of day!