Blooms 2011

Hyacinthoides Excelsior also now starting to bloom.

Not a bulb, but a pretty camellia Kumasaka.

This message was edited Mar 20, 2011 9:42 PM

Nite all.

Hi Everone!

All my bulbs (except for allium) are finally in bloom! I'm a first-timer with bulbs, and I'm kicking myself for not planting them all these years, because they've brought so much joy this year! Here are the photos:

NARCISSUS "TAHITI"

NARCISSUS "MANLY" before it was completely open.

"MANLY"

NARCISSUS "BRIDAL CROWN"

"BRIDAL CROWN"

NARCISSUS "APRICOT WHIRL"

NARCISSUS "GOLDEN DAWN"

These were the tallest and the slimmest of the daffodils. They have bright spring green leaves/stems, while all my other daffs have blue-green strappy leaves. These are very small flowers borne in clusters - so cute!

"Golden Dawn"

MUSCARI "ARMENIACUM SAFFIER"

MUSCARI "VALERIE FINNES"

Photos do not do justice to the color of these muscari - they are an unusual powder blue...so pretty...

MUSCARI "BOTRYOIDES SUPERSTAR"

ANEMONE

I had planted 50 of these beneath some tulips thinking they might blanket the area, but instead there have been about 15 popping up here and there - no spreading ;)

SCILLA SIBERICA "SPRING BEAUTY"

These haven't grown that well here. It may have something to do with our very unseasonably warm weather - it was 80 degrees last Friday! Or, I may have planted them in a place where they aren't too happy.

TULIP "BIG CHIEF"

These were supposed to be 2 ft. tall, but they are a little over half that size.

And last, but not least is ALLIUM "GLOBEMASTER" ...the bud just appeared today!

I love all the bulbs, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be narcissus "Bridal Crown"...they are so gorgeous in person...very long-lived with perfect fluffy floriferous clusters. But, then again - I can't help but smile every single time I see the lemony yellows of n. "Tahiti" :)

Superb photos Natasha. The "Valerie Finnes" coloration must be so uniquely different and very pleasing to the eye. Any type of light blue flower grabs my attention. Tried "Monarch deCaen" Anemones for the first time last year and they were beautiful 3-4" poppy like blooms. Has anyone tried this particular variety from seed? Usually they're sold as a bulb, but did recently see them available as seeds, so I bought some. Haven't planted any because I'm guessing they would be something you plant in the fall here,when the weather is getting cooler.

A Sprekelia (Aztec Lily) blooming today, on the side of the house, in front of Browallia (Bush Violets) "Heavenly Bells" and "Silver Bells"

Natty,
Where did you get your bulbs? You have an outstanding selection and they have performed very well for you. It is a pleasure to see so much form and color.

Hey KnittyKnatty38, nice pics of your bulbs. I don't know if I could choose a favorite, I like them all. Jon, your Aztec Liliy is way ahead of mine which is just starting to peak out of the ground. Your anemone is a gorgeous color. I've only seen the red here. Where did you find the seeds you're going to sow in the fall?

Thanks Annette. I bought the Anemone "DeCaen Mix" seeds from www.hazzardsgreenhouse.com. The prices are a bit expensive because you're buying lots of seeds in their seed packs. I do splurge from time to time because they seem to have seeds for just about anything out there and so many new varieties as well. It can take hours to browse through everything available on their website.

Thanks for the link. I'll be reviewing their website tonight. Thanks for enabling an already addicted gardener. :o)))))

Some of the prices may make you faint, but you'll be stunned by the number of varieties and individual colors of seed they sell for just about anything you can dream of. Have never had any germination issues with their seed.

Just went there, WOW!!!!! I'm going to need a year's vacation to go through their 7000+ seeds. Glad to have a new gardening resource.

Even if I don't buy from them, its a great site to come up with ideas from, and try to find seeds elsewhere in smaller quantities at a lower price. Have fun browsing around. I always do.

Triandus daffodil Thalia, and a Dutch iris that was supposed to be Oriental Beauty, but is not. It seems I received a few bulbs that I didn't order mixed in with the bulbs that I received.

Here's Golden Ducat mixed with another daffodil that I didn't order.

More Bloomsday mixed tulips. I'm loving these colors and will definitely order from Colorblends again next year.

Thank you Jon, Cem9165, and Doug. It's a pleasure to share. I just wish I had checked the file size of my photos before I posted here. Some of them are so humongous, you have to scroll on and on just to get the full picture! :)

Jon - I'm with you on the light blue flowers...I love them. I hope to find more and grow more. They always catch my eye. I like the anemone you posted - my mother has grown those and they're beautiful in person.

Doug - I sent you Dmail regarding the bulb sources.

Cem9165 - All your flowers are so lovely! I wish I had the amount of space you do to keep adding varieties. Alas, I have only a teeny tiny bed out front, and an even smaller one on the side of the house. There are so, so many bulbs I'd love to grow...it's very addictive. How do you like the species tulips? I was going to grow tulip c. var Chrysantha, but they were sold out everywhere. I definitely waited too long to purchase some varieties. I was worried I planted too late (late Nov.), but all is well.

The only bulbs having not yet bloomed (aside from the allium) are 2 mixed bags of daffodils and tulips I bought on clearance at Lowe's (the only "big box" bulbs I've ever purchased). I'm excited to see what pops up, because they will be a complete surprise. I'll post photos of the mystery bulbs when they arrive.





This message was edited Mar 23, 2011 5:30 PM

Annette, I have been so tempted to grow Golden Ducat, but I have never done so. It has great potential, especially when it is not fully opened. That is a photo opportunity I have yet to explore.

Thanks Natasha for the information, which is all new to me. I will definitely look into your sources.

Here is a picture of Wisley against a blue sky.

Cibarius, you should get Golden Ducat. The bloom size is amazing and it has a great color. Here's a surprise for me this year, I planted tulip Portofino in Fall of 2009, and it did well last Spring. Today I found it blooming again, and tulips don't usually survive in our GA soil. I always have to amend our soil with soil conditioner when planting and the area that it returned did get bulb food.

Here's tulip Dordogne opening for the first time today. The heat here is triggering blooms much earlier this year. This tulip was listed as a late bloomer. Not in HOTLANTA!!!!

Here's tulip La Courtine with narcissus Tahiti.

This is Narcissus "Grand Soleil D'or" this week. Even though Narcissus/Daffodils are not meant for South Florida I decided to try this one, since it's recommended for Southern gardens. They all bloomed in their first spring last year. Only about 30% have returned this spring, but that's better than none.

Those daffs are adorable Jon, did you check to see if the rest of them were in the ground?

No I didn't do any digging into the ground. I'm guessing they either rotted during the summer rainy season or just didn't grow for some reason. The issue here is the lack of a winter dormancy period where the bulbs can rest and gather energy for the next bloom season.

Fertilize these with bulb food when they're done blooming, you can find it at Lowes, and hopefully they'll spread for next year. I'm sorry to hear the rest of them may have rotted. You may also consider lifting them once the leaves turn brown, chilling them for a few months, and then replanting them in the late Fall. Annette

I see Grand Soleil D'or in last year's Brent & Becky catalog. What a beautiful flower! I have never noticed it before. It apparently requires no chilling. So it must be a very good selection for Florida.

Doug