New gardener with old garden and LOTS of bulbs

OK, I sure do hope this get lovlier as they bloom. Right now they look a little alien.

Any ideas on what they are?

A pic of one area I almost have cleaned up. I have also found them in the front yard and around other trees not in the main area of the back yard. I even found one rooted on dirt with no covering.

The dirt bulb

half jon quil, half alien

Could the one be some sort of Iris, Traci?

Gonna be beautiful when they're all in bloom.

Good one Rednyr!! LOL :o)

Princess Tammy, I have NO idea.

Here is one of the Daffs in full bloom. Gorgeous! Anyone know the name?

Side view. They are really full! Very ugly while opening, but, WOW, not anymore!

Wow very pretty and they no longer look like aliens :o)

Well, it's a double daffodil, but no clue on the variety. Purty, purty! Mine are coming up. I planted about 150 of them last fall so I'm anxious to see what this will look like.

Should I post it on the ID thread? I figured bulb heads (me included) would know more about them. I guess I could try it. They are very pretty. I don't think many will bloom as I believe the are very crowded. But that is OK, since I plan on digging them up anyway! :o)

May Princess Tammy never have to dig!

Do that, pupil.. The bulb heads will know and doesn't matter. They get bigger, just sort out the lil ones and put them in a separate area to grow up. Still no idea on how long your going to be there?

Never have to dig?! How would I plant my purties, though?!!! LOL :o)

Youa re a princess after all. I though they were expempt from things like digging :o)

HA HA HA Marie, I like the way you think! :o)

by the time the ground thaws enough for digging, Tammy will be a LIW!! :o)

may the ground thaw in time for Shaun to do all of Princess Tammy's digging!! LOL

aahhh how pretty it turned out in the end huh! I think you should post a pic in the bulb forum because I would love to know which ones they are and order me up some... :o) Any luck with the move date yet? How many bulbs have you been able to stash away? I think its awesome you are able to squeeze in some time to bring them with you wherever you go next!

pupil--
I don't know how old your house is, and the fifth shot up does not look like mine do when they open; but if there is any possibility you have this narcissus, they are valuable. Mine are also not blooming yet down here, but all mine are slow this year as I went a bit heavy on the mulch last fall. It might be worth your time to have some body who is a serious bulb collector/grower in your are check them out. You could offer them of the bulbs some for coming and checking them out. Might financially be well worth your time, or not, depending.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/109921/

The plantfiles link variety is commonly called 'Butter and Eggs' in the south--but I think it may well be too early for that variety where you are.
Debbie

Another thing you can do is look through division 4 Narcissus at any of the mail order places.

edited because I can't spell =)

This message was edited Feb 19, 2008 3:49 PM

I was thinking the same thing, dmj, about her bulbs being a gem of a find. Could be, Traci, that you are sitting on an old antebellum estate. Especially since those bulbs are sprouting up in undeveloped woodlands. May very well not been woodlands back it their hay-day.
Just curious how far back your county tax records go. Be interesting to see how long that property has been used.
The GA daffodil society ceded to the Florida society and may be able to identify those bulbs if the American Daffodil society doesn't have any information for your area.
http://www.fladaff.com/
http://daffodilusa.org/daffodils/naturalizing.html

I've been following this thread with much anticipation for those buds to open!

Deborah

Want to clarify that I'm not saying those bulbs date back to antbellum time but those bulbs could be the 'grandchildren' of some. If daffs like the spot they are naturalized in, those could be 50 years old easily.

Here's a daffodil seek query link
http://daffodilusa.org/daffseek.html

I'm so thrilled! I want to dig up information with you. This is exciting!



This message was edited Feb 19, 2008 5:25 PM

OK, not getting to excited.....I know nothing about flowers.....the photo looks exactly like mine....it doesn't show, but there are lighter yellow leaves on the daff.....will have to contact someone......not getting excITED!!

Oh, Cordela, The house was built in 1970's? I believe. The area they are in, was at one time landscaped, I believe, because their is a ring of these around it. It is too planned. However, now I can find them where ever I blow leaves out of the back yard. They have definitely naturalized. They are in the front yard, around all the trees.....Ok going to do some investigating.

Crossing fingers for you!!

this is getting exciting!! wouldn't it be great if Traci found out that SHE was the proud owner of some very historical plants?? keeping my fingers crossed for you Traci :o)


may Princess Tammy have neat plants like Traci.......

Now wouldn't that be nice if it turned out to have something REALLY special in your garden, Traci!? :o)

I was in the middle of clearing a 60' x 8' bed out getting ready for anticipated fence destruction/construction (lol--not!) and this one smooth escaped me, its much earlier:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/106480/

street name Double Campernelle; this one's about to bloom here--its probably more likely this one than the other--its a bit more common.

Deborah, great minds think alike.

Debbie

Debbie - how pretty! they really do get one excited for the upcoming spring don't they... :)

Yes rednyr--I love Narcissus of all kinds. But I'm also really into bulbs.
=)

Hey Debbie,
The first one is much more similar. It is has a fuller look like mine with all the petals. I have described it as a carnation look LOL. Obviously I don't have the venacular for a good description. Also, the petals are much more pointed on the second one than on mine. I will get more pics tomorrow when it is light outside (although I have been known to use a flashlight to take pics before :o) ). I also sent an e-mail with photos to the link Cordela provided. They want more pics as well. ALOT more detail. I just hope I have the camera skills to do it. Hopefully I will know more tomorrow.

Red, it sure does. Now to have all the other mystery foliage bud and bloom. I have had a lenten rose bloom that I didn't know was there and now another one of a different color is about to. Here's a pic of the buds.

May Princess Tammy have some of these in the box I sent her

You can always send me some more just to make sure! :o)

Debbie - whats your favorite bulb(or rhizome or tuber) if you had to chose one and why? and everyone else for that matter...just trying to chatter away until we find out if pupilgat is gonna be selfemployed soon with heirloom bulbs :o) I sure hope so...how cool would that be!

This last year I fell in love with some Dahlias I picked up at a flea market...wish I had gotten more of it...

I am not sure I cold pick one favorite bulb, rhizome or tuber. I think I love them all!!

I'm into small bulbs-- mostly species. My favorites are probably Hesperanthas, Cypellas, Freesias, small species crinums, Zephyranthes, Habranthes, Alliums, Herbertia's, Ipheions, Rhodophiala, Oxalis, Glads...I do everything but Narcissus from seeds, well 98% from seed.

I like narcissus a lot too--esp. the heirlooms.
Debbie
=)

This is the e-mail I received yesterday-

Traci, it looks like a very old double, perhaps ‘Van Scion’. Your place may actually be an old homesite, as it is real common in the south. to find many daffodils of an heirloom period, coming up in large quantities, close together. They naturalized thru the years. If you have the option of letting the foliage begin to yellow before you dig, that would be best. But if that is not an option, you could dig them now and “heel” them in a trench for temporary holding. Please provide more photos, different angles, stem height, varying color, etc., so I can help ID it better.

Now for my problem. The only one that has bloomed completely is pictured above. The others are starting to bloom. Many were damaged by the freezing temps while in bloom and....I cut the one pretty one to show my brother BEFORE I knew I need more photos. I thought more were opened completely. :( Looks like I will be checking every hour to see if anymore have opened up. Also, I guess I need to research 'Van Scion'.

Does anyone know what it means to "heel" them in a trench?

This is sooo exciting!!

Red, LOVE the Dahlia! I want to get some of those!!

Sorry to put ya'll on standby.

Here is 'Van Sion' is plantfiles. I imagine it is the same as 'Van Scion', but who knows, I could be wrong.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/73081/

This message was edited Feb 20, 2008 12:28 PM

Well I still love it no matter what!! Sorry it did not turn out to be a goldmine though :o(

This message was edited Feb 20, 2008 12:23 PM

That's it--its all that green in it that had me baffled, I don't have any like that.

Trenching means to put a lot of them close together (you can do this in pots too, when you move), cover them with soil at the level they were growing, and keep moist. That way when you move to your destination you can spread them out and plant. I do this quite often in pots when I dig something to ship, but aren't packing them up for a few days.

Just email them when the others begin to bloom with pictures--daff's (different varieties) can be either early, mid, or late season depending on the variety. That's the beauty of Narcissus, you can have an extended season and something is always in bloom.
Debbie
=)

Pupil, I believe to "heel them in" is similar to "banking sweet potatoes". Just mound up dirt (can be in a large tub) and cover them. They feel like they are still in the ground.

Actually, you do have a gold mine. Considering the regular retail price of bulbs can easily be $1+. I paid $0.60 for most of mine in several coops and bought over 900. Look at all those dollar bills in the ground! Oh heavens-to-betsy, it just dawned on me the money I've got tied up in mine! You better believe this gal will be shoveling and heeling if I should ever move.

LOL. I just told my Father about it and he is going to try to send one of the construction crews over to help me dig. If anyone sees dollars, it is him. Your more than welcome to come shovel and heel with me. :o)