Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Spring bulb photos


Our temperatures are still way above average. Eighties today and tomorrow before a cold front comes through and brings rain and cooler weather.

I took photos of my spring bulbs last night. These eighty degree days may spell an end to the bulb season. Fingers crossed that the cooler weather on Friday will rescue some of them.


My favorite Parrot Tulip came back--second year in a row. The color combination is fantastic.

These very short yellow and red tulips are Kaufmanniana Guiseppe Verdi. Very short with some red striping in the foliage.





Another very short tulip is Greigii Orange Toronto only about 10 inches tall with very nice red striped foliage.

Unknown daffodil, little faces turned toward the sun. Love the bright colors.



This daffodil reminds me of eggs, the center looks like yellow yolks;) Very small blooms but ruffled and pretty.


Another of my Parrot Tulips.

Do any of you dig your tulip bulbs after the foliage dies back? I've heard some people have success doing this to keep the bulbs going from year to year. A little extra trouble, but I would do it for favorite varieties.

42 comments:

F Cameron said...

Your spring bulbs are so beautiful!

We've had unusually hot weather for spring. My alliums aren't fully opening before they fry. :-(

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Hi Marnie, It has been warm here, too (though not 80 yet) and then cold and then warm... wreaking havoc on my winter-sown seedlings, I can tell you. My tulips are forming buds but not yet blooming. :) So far, I haven't [knock wood!] sen the groundhog!

Southern Lady said...

Your tulips are lovely. I have never planted any myself so I enjoy all of the pictures that you and others post. Hope the weather cools a little for you. Carla

Kathleen said...

Gorgeous Marnie. I remember drooling over your parrot tulip photos last year. I can't believe I didn't order any and add to my garden. Maybe it's better to just view yours?
Do you have trouble keeping your bulbs from year to year? That sort of surprises me. I've never experienced that and I was thinking we live in similar climates. Although I'm so jealous you are way warmer than normal ~ we haven't been feeling that!
Those daffodils that remind you of eggs are really pretty.

Lona said...

I am amazed whenever I see this tulip of yours. It has such wonderful colors. Just beautiful!

Chloe m said...

I knew I would not be dissapointed when I saw you spring bulbs.

These are breathtaking!

tina said...

They are stunning. And it sure looks like the sun is happy up there. I don't dig my bulbs but I think that is what they do in Holland. Might be worth it for a few prized ones.

sweetbay said...

Your spring flowers are just beautiful. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that cooler weather will allow them to stay with you a little longer.

Pat said...

You have tulips and daffodils to kill for...never seen some of them before. The one in your header is just amazing eye candy.
Hope the higher than norm temps dosen't continue too much longer...I would start geting worried.

troutbirder said...

Beautiful spring flowers Marnie. We, too, need cooler temps and some serious rain.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I am lucky to get tulips planted once let alone dig some up and replant. Ha... That Parrot tulip is quite the stunner. Great color. Our tulips are about finished. A few of mine come back but they get smaller and fewer each year. I need to do a real heavy replanting. I hope that cool front comes here with some rain. I have had to water my newly divided plants.

Gail said...

I love the parrots, too...sometimes the colors are just right~~Like yours are...I leave them in the ground and hope for the best! But with favorites I would be more likely to purchase again...gail

Phillip Oliver said...

The tulips are beautiful especially the parrot tulips. I'd like to try some of those.

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

All your bulbs are beautiful, but your Parrot Tulips are just gorgeous. I have thought about digging my tulips and storing them. We'll see if I actually do--with things heating up, it is hard to stay up with the weeding and everything else that is needing to be done.

Dawn said...

Oh my goodness! Your flowers are perfect and beautiful!
Cold and windy here rain this weekend, guess we need it.

Susie said...

Hey Marnie, your Parrot tulips are so pretty. I like the splash of pink and yellow together.

I don't plant them anymore. We treat them as annuals here in the south.

Anonymous said...

I was just wondering if the fabulous tulips in your header were about to bloom! Okay, now they are so gorgeous I may just have to find some this fall. I just planted Miss Kim, so the verdict is still out! I found that double Columbine at Meijer, and just had to have it.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh Marnie, i love your tulips especially the Parrot Tulip... Wow---what a beauty!!!! The little 'egg' Daffodils are gorgeous also. Your Verdi Daffodil looks like one of ours, with a different name. We get our Tulips from Brreck's ---so I'm sure that other companies have different names for theirs.

GORGEOUS---all of them.

Hugs,
Betsy

Naturegirl said...

Marnie:I adore parrot tulips and you have convinced me to plan some this fall!I don't know why I havn't yet.Last fall I was not able to tend my garden but this year for sure..I've just made a note to self in my garden journal.
I can't be bothered digging up bulbs..to much work..better just to plant some fresh ones.
Your selection of flowering bulbs are gorgeous!Have a wonderful day in your garden!

BeadedTail said...

Your flowers are gorgeous! I just love those Parrot Tulips! There aren't many flowers blooming here in Colorado and I'm missing them!

rosebudn6 said...

very colourful tulips. i really like the ones that look like eggs to you. being a fl girl i have never learned to plant the bulbs for early spring...i really want to though. i do hope you get your somewhat cooler weather to help these beauties last a little longer.

oldcrow61 said...

Eighty degrees!!!!!!!!! Lucky you, we're getting snow! The flowers are just gorgeous. I'm terribly envious.

beckie said...

Marnie, such beauties you have. I love the parrot and all the small tulips. I don't dig them up and seem to have good luck. In fcat a lot of them multiply. There does seem to be a life limit though of about 5-6 years.

Darla said...

The cooler weather will help them hold on a bit longer I'm sure. The tulips are so gorgeous.

Cheryl said...

Hi Marnie....your tulips are splendid. I can see why you are smitten with them.

I never lift my bulbs.....and my tulips always do well. In saying that I know many people who do lift their bulbs and swear by it. At the end of the day it is down to personal choice I suppose.

garden girl said...

Beautiful blooms Marnie! I haven't tried growing tulips here - I just know the rabbits would eat the blooms just like they used to in every place I've lived except my last house. I never dug them up. Planted 12 years ago, they're still blooming for the new owner. I just drove by the house this afternoon on the way to taking my husband to the oral surgeon, and they're still big and beautiful! I still miss my old house and gardens seven years after selling the place.

Meadowview Thymes said...

Your tulips are beautiful. I am encouraged by your comment of them coming back. I planted some hybrids this past year...I am hoping some will reappear next spring, but with our crazy Texas weather you never know!
Happy Gardening, Linda

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

I love those Parrot Tulips, they're so extravagant with their ruffles and blending of colors. I hope they make it until the cooler weather.
BTW, you asked about where to find Caulophyllum thalictroides. I got mine at The Natural Garden in St. Charles. They still had it last year, so they'll probably have it this year as well. Here is their website.

Skeeter said...

Those are stunning pictures of your tulips! I would take the time to dig them out as they would be worth it for a repeat performance. Mother Nature sure has been a hard one to figure out the past few months. Record lows, then record high and now perfect!

I mailed a package off to you today! Be looking for it soon :-)

Rose said...

These parrot tulips are gorgeous! I must make a note to add some of these in the fall--I firmly believe you can never have enough tulips:) I never dig mine up; if I did, I'd probably never get around to planting them again in the fall. I know many people consider tulips almost an annual, but mine come back year after year with no problems.

Balisha said...

I wondered if those parrot tulips were in your garden. The colors are so pretty. I just love them.
Balisha

Jan said...

Gorgeous, Marnie. I remember your parrot tulips from last year. I think yours were the first I'd ever seen. I've learned a lot through this garden blogging world;-) Love your yellow and red striped tulip. What a charmer. I haven't dug up tulip bulbs...I know I'm much too lazy for that! I don't have any exotic or unusual ones but perhaps if I did I'd consider doing so. Many years I add new ones in the spring that are already through the ground when I buy them. The voles/moles and other critters chew up so many of my bulbs that I can never justify spending a lot of $$ on them, but I do enjoy them, nonetheless. Happy spring to you!

joey said...

You were wise to shoot these lovelies, Marnie. Your favorite Parrot Tulip is mine too. It was 84º here yesterday ... you could almost hear the tulips pop. After the long wait, I hate to see my garden in 'fast-forward'. As always, stunning photos!

walk2write said...

Just beautiful, all of them! I don't grow tulips here (too hot), but the daffodils come back for me and multiply every year. I ordered them, a special Southern mix, from Wayside a few years ago.

Q said...

Your tulips are gorgeous!
I never dig mine but I do give them some bone meal and plant daffodiles around them to keep the rabbits away.
I force my tulips indoors during the winter and plant the bulbs after they have ripened off in the Spring for next year's bloom.
Hope the cool down made it to you.
I am so happy we had a high of 61 degrees this afternnoon. We also have had two weeks of too warm weather.
When I cut lilacs for the house this afternoon I thought of you.
I enjoyed catching up.
Sherry

Sylvana said...

What variety of parrot tulip are these? I would really like to give these a try. My current favorite parrots are Blue parrots. But Bright is also nice. I bought Rai, but I think they sent me the wrong bulbs - I never saw them bloom.

If you live where it gets cold, you should be able to leave them in the ground. I have tulips that have been coming back for the last 12 years. They also like a little bone meal after they flower and before their leaves die back.
If you live in a warmer climate, digging them and storing them in a cold place until replanting is recommended.

Gayle said...

I never get tired of seeing the spring bulbs or pictures of them! Delicious!!

The Pleasures of Homemaking said...

Your tulips are just stunning! I have a few - they don't really work too well in Georgia (not cold enought in the winter I guess).

I have that little daffodil with the eggyolk center - bought the bulbs on ebay but can't remember the name.

Gorgeous photos!

Manuela

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Your flower are just spectacular! I just leave mine in the ground to come up again the following year. Works for me!

God bless ya'll and have a terrific Tuesday!!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful bulbs, Marnie! I never dig mine but often come upon them by accident, usually only half a bulb skewered by an errant shovel... oops.

sweetbay said...

Marnie if you're interested in another start of Jesse's Song let me know.

sewa mobil said...

Your tulips are beautiful. I am encouraged by your comment of them coming back