Operation tulip 2008
Bulbs are creating all the excitement for me right now, even though most have not arrived and won’t until mid-October. (I did receive 20 galanthus to be planted “immediately”—yikes, how long have I had them?!)
I get a huge kick out of changing hybrid tulips every year. Hell, even some of my species tulips are erratic repeaters, so I’ve also chosen about 35 of those to plant this fall.
For the hybrid tulips, I’ll be combining Menton and Queen of the Night in two front raised beds, which later will be planted with some kind of tall tropical, surrounded by other annuals. (That’s just the way it’s got to be; these cramped easeway beds are no place for perennials.) Queen of the Night is a tall, stately Single Late that has been a favorite of many gardeners for years. Previously, I’ve combined it with White Triumphator, a lily-flowered variety. One year I had it with West Point, a yellow lily-flowered type. I haven’t used it in at least three years.
Queen of the Night makes almost any color you put with it stand out. Menton, another Single Late, might not be as venerable—oh, let me get my book. Ah yes, Menton is 1971; Queen of the Night is unknown, but could be turn-of-the-century. I know that’s not old for tulips, but for these type of hybrids, where new ones are always being introduced, it’s respectably vintage. Anyway, Tulipa (great book) does not say much about Menton, but about Queen of the Night, it comments “one of the first nearly black tulips to come on the market … continues to hold a valuable place.”
In containers and in the front “yard” I will be planting tight groups of two Triumph varieties, Wildhof and Negrita (c. 1970s). I wanted Wendy Love but Scheepers didn’t get a good crop or whatever and I had to substitute, so I went for the light/dark contrast. These are great for forcing so I’ll probably try that as well. That would mean I’ll have a few indoor tulips in February, which will be fun.
Now, these are supposed to bloom at different times, with the Triumphs earlier, but we’ll just see about that. Last spring they all came out at once, in May. So there you go.
I have great respect and admiration for these flowers, and I think that may be because I’ve been exploring them in all their variations, without depending on them as perennials. Familiarity would surely lead to contempt in such a case. The parrots and viridifloras are also beautiful and great fun. I’ve not done much with fringed, but would like to. Tulipa, can, I am sure, be ordered from Amazon; the photography is incomparable and there is plenty of information, not enough for the hardcore geek, to be sure, but a respectable overview for the non-scholar.
Tulip talk continues in the next post. It was inspired by Susan's tulip post over at beyondsustainablegardening.com. Are you planting tulips this fall? Which are you planting?
I get a huge kick out of changing hybrid tulips every year. Hell, even some of my species tulips are erratic repeaters, so I’ve also chosen about 35 of those to plant this fall.
For the hybrid tulips, I’ll be combining Menton and Queen of the Night in two front raised beds, which later will be planted with some kind of tall tropical, surrounded by other annuals. (That’s just the way it’s got to be; these cramped easeway beds are no place for perennials.) Queen of the Night is a tall, stately Single Late that has been a favorite of many gardeners for years. Previously, I’ve combined it with White Triumphator, a lily-flowered variety. One year I had it with West Point, a yellow lily-flowered type. I haven’t used it in at least three years.
Queen of the Night makes almost any color you put with it stand out. Menton, another Single Late, might not be as venerable—oh, let me get my book. Ah yes, Menton is 1971; Queen of the Night is unknown, but could be turn-of-the-century. I know that’s not old for tulips, but for these type of hybrids, where new ones are always being introduced, it’s respectably vintage. Anyway, Tulipa (great book) does not say much about Menton, but about Queen of the Night, it comments “one of the first nearly black tulips to come on the market … continues to hold a valuable place.”
In containers and in the front “yard” I will be planting tight groups of two Triumph varieties, Wildhof and Negrita (c. 1970s). I wanted Wendy Love but Scheepers didn’t get a good crop or whatever and I had to substitute, so I went for the light/dark contrast. These are great for forcing so I’ll probably try that as well. That would mean I’ll have a few indoor tulips in February, which will be fun.
Now, these are supposed to bloom at different times, with the Triumphs earlier, but we’ll just see about that. Last spring they all came out at once, in May. So there you go.
I have great respect and admiration for these flowers, and I think that may be because I’ve been exploring them in all their variations, without depending on them as perennials. Familiarity would surely lead to contempt in such a case. The parrots and viridifloras are also beautiful and great fun. I’ve not done much with fringed, but would like to. Tulipa, can, I am sure, be ordered from Amazon; the photography is incomparable and there is plenty of information, not enough for the hardcore geek, to be sure, but a respectable overview for the non-scholar.
Tulip talk continues in the next post. It was inspired by Susan's tulip post over at beyondsustainablegardening.com. Are you planting tulips this fall? Which are you planting?
Comments
And then there are the galanthus, alliums, muscari, fritillaria....
Bulbs are such bliss.
But I just placed a big order for some minor bulbs that I'm kind of excited about!
Carol at May Dreams Gardens