Fall fits and starts
(All is well in the plant room.)
If it’s not warm enough to sit in the garden, I am unlikely to want to work in it. I’m not one of those dedicated gardeners who loves to get out in the brisk chilly air and make a day of it—but I can stand an hour or two. Hence, there is still much to be done, and a bit that has been done.
The bulb project continues. Species tulips dasytemon, oculata, kolpkowskiana, and orphanidea have been added to the tarda, clusiana, batalini, humulis, biflora, bakari, marjoletti, and turkistanica I already have. (You’d think this would create a sea of color, and you would be wrong—so many of these are needed!) For the first time in a while, I planted a bunch of narcissus outside: Eudora, albus plenus odorata, and cantabricus. Just feeling crazy, I guess. Most of the indoor forcing is yet to do, but I have 4 big containers in the garage.
And this year I have a new protection system for the bulbs. For the containers I am using peony supports over the planting, as you see. I think this will deter squirrels if I use red pepper as well. I’ve also treated the outside plantings with cayenne and liquid fence. Phew! But I understand it wears off. It’s a bit of trouble, but worth it when you love spring bulbs.
You’re all reading about what a crappy little fall many of us have been having, but the perennials at least are turning brilliant yellow this year, especially the hostas. And this Solomon’s Seal I just planted is practically fluorescent.
Comments
Frances
I just clicked on your initials from a comment on someone's blog. I enjoyed reading your last few posts while eating breakfast. I want to come back to see your garden at different times of the year. I don't have a big yard, so need to plant things around my bulbs, sometimes annuals, to hide the dying foliage. I'm curious to see what you have with all those bulbs you plant. I have a new area in front of my curb, and am trying to decide if I'm going to plant bulbs there.
Have a great day!
Liquid Fence and cayenne. . . I should have been more timely with the stuff. Ah well, there's always next year.
Like you, I'm not quite so excited about seeing what might be blooming in my garden right now--what isn't green is brown or yellow. This is the time when I start thinking of next spring...now if I could only remember all those empty spaces in the garden where I wanted to plant more bulbs!
The species tulips are small and have minimal fliage, this creating very little disturbance in the perennial garden.
Hostas are good with bulbs--they take a while to unfurl their leaves. Also a ground cover like pachysandra, vinca or the like. Daylilies will hide a lot of foliage.
In northern Wisconsin, we have already had FOUR snowfalls! This is unusual and challenging. Fortunately, I already have cleaned up the garden/yard. Except for those damned leaves.