I thought is was about time to check out one of the local nurseries and see what was in for spring bulbs. This is one of my purchases for just $2.99! Pink Perfection.
Today's bargain...
Wow, it looks huge.
Scales galore
I had to get a cart just to haul it out to my truck....
Pard, that's just what I am going to do next weekend at Garden Expo. Look for any big plump bulb I can find. Last year I found a couple HUGE Conca d' Or bulbs. Not sure where this place found them, but they always seem to have a few surprises for me. Can't wait!
Wow that has to be about 44cm!
Mag. what city is the expo in?
It's in Madison at the Alliant Energy Center on Feb. 9, 10, & 11
Oh yeah, here's some more info Andrew
http://www.wpt.org/gardenexpo/index.cfm
The Bruce Company is where I have seen the great bulbs in the past.
Close, intercessor. 39 cm
Hi Connie, where did you find that???
Carol
I had to get a cart just to haul it out to my truck....
LOL !
Pard, your new bulb has a great new home. Are you going to pot it up? Or *stuff* it in the fridge?
Daisy-- Garland's. There are 4 bins of "mammoth" lilies in one of the greenhouses. Regal, Golden Splendor, Pink Perfection... I forget the other one.. a senior moment... or maybe there were just 3. You bag them yourself with some damp sawdust they have on hand. All priced at $2.99 each.
Sherleft-- once I got it to my truck I had to go back and get a couple of guy-helps to heft it into the bed... darn thing wouldn't fit in the front seat....
Magnolia-- I haven't a clue as to what to do with it now. It's not like I planned this out when I bought it! In the meantime it will store in the damp sawdust out in my workshop where it is cool.
Well, thanks a bunch, Connie. I will have to go there then. I was just there a week or so and you know, I forgot to go into those greenhouses then. I was looking at them when I left but wanted to get home since it was nice outside. Darn!!!!
A senior moment. Geez, you aren't that old.......................
Well, Connie does have a large truck so......................must have been so big........................LOL
Nice size bulb pard, I had a Pink Perfection and it is gorgeous, it was still there last year when I dug around but seems to have taken a rest, it was a lot smaller (renewed itself?) so I hope the hot dry year didn't kill it off. They always have them at my local too, I might buy a new one this year. They always have the ones you mentioned plus African Queen (orangey) and Barbaresco (pink). Don't think I'll need a truck for it though! If you get in early there are some big bulbs.
Man, am I jealous!
Me too!! >:P (as I sit here with the coldest weekend this winter)
Is the Expo worth going to if you don't do a workshop?
It depends what you like doing. I love seeing everything...seeds, bulbs, gosh and they have all of those UW experts there to answer any questions you might have about just about anything. It does my spirit good to see and smell all that green. Make a day of it and do something else fun around here. I like less crowds, so I go early morning or Friday eve. But iuf you like crowds, then any other time is fine.
Yes the green is good. I would have to leave at 6:30am to get there at the open, Yawnnnn. We might go and check it out. Although my DW might insist I don't bring my wallet... :*)
Pamsue, that isn't too far for you to drive for $2.99, LOL
I am going to check out Garlands tomorrow.
Carol
I'll make it easy for you Daisy. The big honkers are just inside and to the right of the greenhouse closest to the main building. Step in, hang a right, then look right....
Fine, I will do that then tomorrow after work. I figured they were with the rest of the bulbs..........
OK I got this baby planted tonight. After taking loads of scales... It was not easy digging a hole deep enough but I persevered.... Pictures this summer...
How far down did you go? When I planted mine I thought 3x or 4x the length meant from side to side,ooops. Then I read something that said top to bottom...
Good question; maybe twice the height of the bulb. Thrice would be better but at that depth I hit heavy gooey clay so best to plant less deep. I'm guessing perhaps 7 or 8 inches from surface to top of bulb. I stuck a stick in next to it in case I need to stake it later.
Hi Connie, I got 2!!!
I bought the 'Pink Perfection' and 'Regal'. Also got one for my neighbor. The bulbs I got are big but think you got a better one. A lot of them had a huge open hole in the middle and I didn't care for that. Water would sit there and rot the rest of the bulb, I think.
They also had 'African Queen' and 'Pure Splendor'. I was debating on them. The 'Pure Splendor' didn't have much selection tho.
Ok, why do you take off so many scales then? You want more lilies but you won't get them until a few years right, like glads, etc.??? Please let me know.
Also, are these 2 I got fragrant???
Carol
I got my really big bulb by sticking my hand deep into the sawdust and grubbing around doing pinch tests:) Taking a lot of scales is just a sign of being a lilyholic. We can't help it and it doesn't matter how long it takes to grow them out and it doesn't matter that we don't have a place to plant them. It's a good way to share plant material though. Trumpet lilies grow pretty fast and will bloom the 2nd or 3rd year.
Most trumpet lilies are quite fragrant but I haven't grown those two so maybe someone else who has grown them can comment.
That hole in the middle is simply where last year's stem came out. I've never had a problem with a lily rotting because of that hole.
Hum, that is good to know that the hole won't be too bad then. I did dig down deep but I think a lot of people have been there already.
Thanks, Carol