Spring has finally hit at work. Last fall we had a bulb frame built and we are currently reaping the rewards. Here are a few pics. First is a shot part of the frame.
Pics from the Memorial University BG in Newfoundland
Crocus chrysanthus 'Cream Beauty'
Crocus chrysanthus 'Blue Pearl' with an abberant Crocus tomassinianus who snuck in!
Crocus chrysanthus 'Gypsy Girl'
Crocus biflorus var taurii
Eranthus hyemalis
That is really neat Todd. What do you do with the area when the bulbs finish flowering?
Iris reticulata 'Harmony'
and Scilla miczenkoana. With over 60 pots in the frame, I'll have a series of pics to show over the next few weeks. We will keep the bulbs growing in the pots until they start to brown then we will with-hold water all summer, repot in September then start all over again.
Todd those are great. Glad to hear that Spring finally has arrived for you. May you make up lost ground quick.
Very nice Todd! But why are they all in pots? Is it so you can remove them when the bulbs are spent and put in different ones? I think the Crocus tomassinianus actualy looks quite nice with the blue pearl, a very nice 'accident' :)
Steve
What a lovely spring pick-me-up! Ü
That looks wonderful, with all the pots together, and those great crocus!
The bulbs in pots does aloow them to be moved around but it also allows for individual care of certain bulbs. We can easily control which need water in summer VS those that need a summer baking. In the big scheme, it is a very British way of presenting bulbs. That along with potted alpines in an alpine house (which is actually right next to our bulb frame).
Very nice presentation Todd. I've never seen a bulb frame before. Hmmmmm.....getting ideas again :-) --Ginny
Todd.
When do the gardens open to the public ,And those crocus are awsum
there huge ,i like the blue pearl the best. not fond of yellow it remindes me of dandylions thats not spelt write man my brain is cooked i was in my greenhouse all day gees it's enough to cook dinner in there
ohhhhhh got to love it though.
The gardens opens May 1. The crocus and iris will be gone then for sure, but we have lots of species tulips and narcissus that should be perfect for the spring opening.
Here are the Scilla miczenkoana as a full pot (two days ago only 2 blossoms were open)
Iris reticulata S.J. Dyt next to Harmony
What a grand idea Todd, and one that is new to me. Joan
Very nice display Todd. When is this area covered?
I don't think I've seen them grown in pots before like that, it's really smart. The Scilla miczenkoana is gorgeous. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!! Can it be grown in a normal garden like S.siberica?
Steve
Steve, the Scilla is easy outside and mine came into bloom outside just as fast as those in the bulb frame. They don't spread as rapidly as S. siberica. In the nursery trade, this scilla is often, incorrectly, called Scilla tubergeniana.
I have to agree with steve thay are nice Scilla.
Is it me or do the flowers seem biger colud it be because of the bulb frame,I have them but the flowers are nowere as big.
Being new bulbs, that can make them a bit bigger..they will probably get a bit smaller next year. I was checking the frame today and the first narcissus have opened...I'll get a pic the next time the suns out....not until next Thursday apparently! We have some real freeky tulip species coming along but it will be early May before they open.
Hi Todd,
I enjoyed looking at the variety of crocuses, but wondered about the scale of the flowers. Some of the more recent crocuses I've bought have been quite little and I find that in the spring I prefer the big, bold, sassy ones. Where do yours fit on the size scale?
Ann
I'm going to be on the look out for those Scilla this fall. I think they'd look real good planted with my siberica. MUST GET!!!
This message was edited Apr 14, 2006 4:55 PM
Yes i agree i like the large ones as will ,bough a fue crocus last year thay said thay were big and bold flowers HA small and quite if you ask me ,im not impressed with them.
The ones Todd has pitchered now thats a flower to notice.
All the crocus we have in the frame are actually the small types...none are the larger Dutch crocus. Massed together they put on a good show but by themselves they look a little small. Here are Crocus etruscus from my garden....again a mass planting is what's needed.
Great to see such bloom, Todd, and thanks for the names, too.
I'll take my camera out with me next time I'm going by Parliament Hill -- the crocus there should be out now. I'm going to try to hit the Experimental Farm next week, just across from the Arboretum where I take my dog to run.
Andy, I bet they are lovely, but if it's as warm as it was today, they may be finished if you don't get there soon. Over the years, I've developed a solid bed of crocuses across the front of my house - an expanse of about 12 feet. Am presently marking the clumps which I need to divide and I will be moving quite a few from a garden at the side of the house because we need to rebuild a window well and they will all be dug out in the process. Mine are not the lovely, named cultivars that Todd was showing - at least most of them aren't. They are just big sassy crocuses. This is what they looked like around 9:45 this morning.
Ann
Great display Ann...those are the Dutch crocus...Purpurea, Pickwick and Snowstorm most likely. My Dutch crocus are just starting so you are about 2 weeks ahead of me.
Thanks, Todd. I didn't even know they had names. Some of them I've had for 35 years.
Ann
Hi Todd,
I was wondering what you have the crocus' in, (what is in the pots?) soil etc.
Connie
All our bulbs are growing in 1 part topsoil, 1 part compost and 1 part sand. We repot them into fresh soil each August.
Thanks Todd,
I love the crocus, and was going to try and get some this spring, now I know how to plant them...
Connie