Wedding gift - bulbs for Atlanta, GA?

My step-son is getting married this fall (perfect time to plant bulbs!) and has just bought a house in the Atlanta area. All my bulb-planting has been in New England - i have no clue what grows better or worse or not at all down there! I do know they're having a drought. But might some things that i can't grow at all grow better down there? Do tulips naturalize more easily there? Any tips would be appreciated...

The couple is registered at Target!! and for money!!!! I'd rather give something more personal, especially since we couldn't give enough money to be noticeable. So I thought bulbs (custom picked for his area) would be a lovely gift. Am I thinking too hard, and should I just get them a crock pot or set of sheets or whatever?

xx, Carrie

I would personally love to receive bulbs as a gift. Now is he or his soon to be wife gardeners?

He used to mow his lawn pretty aggressively. . . but this will be their first house together. I know I would love to get bulbs too, and they're both from up here, so I thought if i could find out here on DG what bulbs would grow well down there.... I should mention that DH, the groom's father, thinks it's a terrible idea. I do have a while to work on him though... And now, while the bulbs are finally coming up here, seems like the time to think about it. Then in October, after the wedding, will be the perfect time to plant bulbs, right, even in Atlanta? (This is a long term plan.)

The surprise bridal shower is next month, I guess I can sort of scope out the bride a little more then. She works as a nanny.

xx, Carrie

Well, I looked up one of the Atlanta area codes and they are located in zone 8.

I grow daylilies, lilies and iris.

Carol

Tulips will do beautifully for one season, then the heat of our summer will kill them all back, what survived would not get enough 'chilling hours' for the coming season, they will not rebloom well. I replant mine every year. It's a tradition.

Yiurs are beautiful! I wonder if tulips perennialize anywhere? Not the species tulips - I love those, but they're not spectacular enough for a wedding present, somehow. Maybe millions of daffodils. xx, Carrie

Carrie,
If the DH is still objecting, you could send a few bulbs as part of the wedding gift. How 'bout a basket of gardening supplies with bulbs added in? That would be my kind of present, but plant nuts, go figure, lol!

Here's a couple of websites that will help you with your selection and packaging.

http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=111

http://www.plantamemory.com/fbulb/btuliord.html

Carol

Thanks, Carol, of course! All those websites I've been forcing myself away from are now possibilities! Great ideas, all. xx, Carrie

I'm a consummate gardener but far too practical when it comes to gifts I really want to receive, (cash or exchangeables only, please) that would be an ok gift for me, but my man would roll his eyes. I have to ask, were there any garden or yard/patio-related gift items on their registry? Weddings are such a busy time for the couple that having something to plant might be something that gets put off, but maybe a container that you made for them as part of a gift might be nice. Just a thought

That is an excellent question! We're on such a tight budget these days (DH and DD#1 both in college!) that it's embarrassing to buy something from a registry and have them know exactly how much we spent (or didn't!). The wedding is in Boston but their new house (with all their new stuff from Target) will be in Atlanta. But I'll check the registry for gardening stuff - even stuff like a rake or a snow shovel - oh, I guess they don't need a snow shovel down there. xx, Carrie

OK, I looked at their Registry list at Target. They are registered for 5 (!) vacuum cleaners, a set of outdoor chairs, outdoor rugs, but not even hoses! They want every kind of cake pan ever invented (that Target sells) but no gardening gloves! I hate buying things off registries. I was thinking of gardening gloves, a bulb planter and 50 bucks worth of daffodil bulbs! Oh, well. SHE obviously did the registry, not he. xx, Carrie

Carrie maybe you could off to plant a bed for them as part of their gift.

No - I'm in a wheelchair in Boston, the house (which they don't even own or at least have the key to yet) is in Atlanta. Good idea, though. xx, Carrie

Carrie....

I live in the Atlanta area.

Not sure if you are still looking for bulb recommendations but asiatic and oriental lillies do just beautifully here in this area. I don't grow any special ones, just the mixed packages that you can buy in the spring at the big box stores.

carole

I am going to a bridal shower in a few weeks, to scope out the bride more closely. It seems like there must be some bulbs that are too tender for up here that do well down there. DH is still against it, alas. Thank you fir the suggestion, Carole!

Carrie

You're welcome.

Carol

If they are in their twenties, & haven't expressed interest in gardening in their new home yet, then I wouldn't give them any live items to plant, esp. since the holidays will be approaching and they are still going to be reeling from the wedding and moving. Even now, (almost 40 & an avid gardener), if I had all of that going on, plus moving to a new home, and in the fall of all times, there's no way I could plan where to garden and what to put there. I would be overwhelmed and the bulbs would sit there until spring when my brain was back to normal and I learned a little about my new landscape.
I would love that gift, but I would have to consider if they would or not.

That's DH's point. Besides, they're going to be arranging all their new stuff from Target. You're probably right. x, Carrie