does anyone remember the river of muscari?

I think this must have been before there was a 'favorites' feature, because I feel sure I would have saved it. Or it might have been before I knew about the feature! Anyway, it was someone who was employed as a head gardener somewhere and had planted a 'river' (or 'stream' or some water feature) of grape hyacinth. It was GORGEOUS and I wish I had the link to it. I believe it was in Maine, but I'm not sure.

xxxx, Carrie

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/730772/

Carriel--

R U going to do a r of m???

How many bulbs do you think that would require?? a few thousand? I only have 80...not enuf...

Looks like watersedge used 15,000!! I bought 150 for four pots this year. Can't wait to see how they turn out.

DH won't let me put them in the lawn -- yet, heh heh. I planted some (like 20) around a bush when the push was a foot or two high - now the shrub is 10 ft and the 20 (if it was even that many) muscari are around somewhere! I don't think we have the space, at most we would have a trickle, LOL. But it's a wonderful inspiration, don't you think? (Big plans for the back, once the need for "grass" is eliminated.)

x, C

Oh, just 15,000?? Well, that's do-able---only 14,920 more to go then!!

lol...I am trying to figure out if I can plant them in and around the normally shaded areas I have, most of the trees are decidious, so I am thinking that would work. I have so many bulbs, if I can plant them in those areas, I can just place them on the compost and cover them and that would save a lot of digging!!

Hmmm...maybe get my grown children over one weekend with lots of bags of compost and soil and let them all have at it...maybe a plan!

I have about three hundred different ones, hyacinths, daffs, iris etc. So what do you think?

Well, Janet, I'm no expert, but I confess I use your plan from time to time...especially the part about getting the grown children to help!

Yes, when it gets late in the season, I just spread out the bulbs and cover them with compost and chopped leaves and whatever...seems to work OK for us, but we aren't so picky and I don't do it with expensive bulbs... I would think it would surely work for muscari...

We have planted bulbs at Christmas time, but Thanksgiving time is better here, and I'm having a lot of out of towners I can put to work while the Turkey cooks!

LOL, that sounds like a plan!

And where would any of us be without hmm--- what do we call them--- I guess I always call them bulb planters, but they extremely useful, not just for planting a few (and I mean some, not thousands) bulbs, dividing already cut perennials, making holes for tiny plantlets to go in -- I wouldn't be without those things, whatever they're called!

xx, C

PS thanks for the link.

carrielamont-- are you talking about my kids?!? LOL

NO! If I were talking about anyone's kids, it would be mine! LOL I didn't realize how funny that would look until you answered! x, Carrie

LOL,,hmmmm...sure does come in handy around here a lot...LOL

I MEAN THOSE METAL TOOLS WITH HANDLES! x, Carrie

LOL...I know...I am just kidding with you....I like all of my gardening tools too! Especially the longer handled ones with the fork on one side and the spade on the other...

Yep.

It's not nearly on this scale, but the curving bed that joins my driveway to my front walkway is edged in rocks and bordered with grape hyacinths for a "stream" effect (OK, more of a "streamlet" LOL). I initially planted it with a mixture of colors (some white, pale blue, and bicolor varieties), but the "plain blue" ones multiplied more strongly and have mostly taken over.

I'm big on planting Muscari in swoops and curves and streams of color...

Love your combo of white and blue. That's what I always strive for and never quite achieve!

I am waiting for my B & B sale order to arrive (and also my bulb planters/kids to come home!) so I can get my last bulbs in the ground! I will explain to them about the term 'swoop' and see if they can understand the concept! LOL Sometimes they are a little negative about my design aspirations...but beggars can't be choosers!

It's getting pretty cold here...

If they won't go for "swoop" maybe they'd get "ribbon" of color as a design concept?

Oh, I was so tempted to get more muscari from Bert, and scilla siberica, and on and on. I soooo want a HUGE splash of streaming blue! But variety won out over quantity, of course...typical gemini here can't blow the bulb budget on a few scant species, lol.

Janet, what's your weather like now? Have you finally gotten rain? We haven't crossed paths lately on the forums, what have you planted (or are going to plant) this fall? Inquiring minds want to know, lol!

tabasco&critter, I think I sent both of you some species daffs the same year. The coming spring is when you'll really see them shine! Gotta see pics. I expect you both spelled my name out in your lawn with them, LOL.

Neal, those babies were shining last year! I put them all around the base of Jim's mimosa tree, and we just loved them. I know they'll keep multiplying and be even more wonderful this year! There's a few little 'Minnow' daffs in with them to keep them company...

Oooooohhh, your just going to jump for joy next spring!!

LOL yes, I spelled out your name and last year a lot of the bulbs came up quite nicely under the dogwood and very close to the primroses you sent. I will be sure to get some pics next spring!

B & B sent out my box of bulbs for delivery tomorrow. It's pretty cold and icy today so I think I'll need a hot toddy as I'm planting along this week. I'm shivering already and I'm sitting by the fire tonight....

I just got my email too, the bulbs are on the way! I'm having a brandy to warm my bones as we speak, hoping for a warm spell in the next few days :)

I've got 11.8 pounds of bulbs on the way too... and they're going to have to languish in the garage until I return from Boston! I'm leaving in the morning to visit family there. But probably the snow will have melted by the time I return. :-)

Neal, here's the "group shot." I know they'll eventually fill in and create a big sploosh of yellow around that tree... what you can't really appreciate in that first photo is the daintiness of these blooms and the way they toss around in any passing breeze!

critter, I love that about them too! Over the years I've become very fond of graceful, nodding blooms that dance in a breeze. It gives twinkling movement, or "life"to the garden.

I wonder if there is a market for bobble-head flowers?????????? Have to look into that.

I noticed at our local Menard's they had bins of Muscari bulbs, 150 in a bag for only $1.50 Clearance. Great bargain, if only we did not have over a foot of snow lol.
Becky

LOL, Bleek!

Great deal, Becky!

Neal, I have two boxes filled with Spring bulbs that need to go into the ground! Everything you can imagine, daff, hyacinth, grape hyacinth, corcus, species crocus, and many specialty bulbs. I just need some energy and a few of mid 60ish days to get it done...also have lilies and calla and some new iris to add to the garden...I may not get it all done...sad but true!

Thank goodness you've got a bit more time down there. Brrrrrr...it got in the teens last night here! The last of mine are scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed for some warm days!