Being a keen gardener can be a wonderful and exciting thing - but it can also be frustrating, challenging and difficult at times. However, the one thing above all that it teaches is to be patient. In this fast-paced world, patience is most definitely a virtue.
Here we are, in autumn and I have just finished my tulip planting for next spring, with the optimism and excitement this brings. I have ordered more tulips than I have had before, due to the joy that this year's tulips gave me. Above is Ballerina, from my garden in April/May this year. The other photos are from the Peter Nyssen website, which is where I got all my bulbs from, and if the quality is the same as last year, they should be terrific.
I have kept some of these Ballerina bulbs and have put them together with some Black Parrot, also from earlier this year, in the same pot, to see whether they will flower next year, as the flowering quality can drop and most advice seems to be to treat tulips as one year only flowers. However, it's a bit of an experiment and I shall report back.
I have gone for single mixtures for the early insects, including single early (above)...
and single late. They do look spectacular in a mass planting. Mine are all in pots and tubs.
I have also chosen Red Shine, which is meant to be as good as Ballerina, so I am really looking forward to seeing how that one does.
Another bright mix - single Triumph mix. I am hopeful that my pots will be a riot of colour. I have learnt from my mistakes last year and I haven't crammed the bulbs in so much. I have planted them on two levels, so now there is nothing left to do but to sit and wait until next Spring. Patience indeed...
won't be long the way the year is flying by, soon see the snowdrops and then the daffs and then the glory of the tulips.
ReplyDeleteLovely selection
Briony
x
Thanks, Briony. I agree, where has the year gone? I can't believe it will soon be December! I am hoping for a lovely display of these tulips next year.
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Tulips are my favourite flower, I'll try to be patient to see how yours turn out! :-) Chrissie x
ReplyDeleteThanks Chrissie. It is at times like this that I long for a bigger garden so that I could indulge myself and have drifts of tulips, instead of the odd pot dotted about. Then I think how lucky I am to have a garden at all and lucky to be able to buy the tulips that I do! I am hoping that they will turn out well.
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Tomas and I planted some daffs and tulips in pots during half term. I'm really looking forward to seeing how they turn out as it's the first time I've planted bulbs. Yours look fab!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tracy. I really enjoy planting bulbs as you can plant them all over the garden as well as in pots. Just when you have forgotten about them, up they come and give a great burst of colour just when you need it most! I have also planted some delicate anemone blandas in little pots as well as in the borders, so I am hoping they do well too. I hope your bulbs grow well for you - it is so exciting to plant these unprepossessing things and then see what they transform into!
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Your tulips are such a glorious colour Ellie, and I wish you the best with your trial! A good tulip show is very difficult to beat! Hugs, Joy x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joy. I am a relative newcomer to tulip planting as this is only the third year that I have planted them. I do enjoy their colours in the Spring. It will be interesting to see how well the second year bulbs do.
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Tulips are one of my favourites and your patience will be rewarded when they sprout up and bloom beautifully in the Spring. Well done for being so diligent with your planting, I haven't even got mine in the ground yet and time is flying by!
ReplyDeleteXx
Thanks, Gilly. I love the beautiful colours of tulips and Ballerina was my absolute favourite from earlier in the year, which surprised me as I don't usually like orange all that much. It looked amazing out in the garden though. According to Monty Don's tulip planting trial on Gardeners' World, you can plant tulips right up to December and they'll still perform well the following Spring, so all is not lost with your planting!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Hi Ellie,
ReplyDeleteI am your new swap partner for the cracker swap. I have emailed you too!
Jille x
Hello Jille and thanks. I have just replied and am really looking forward to the swap.
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Hi Ellie, I have found the species tulips are so reliable and flower year after year. The other tulips that they reckon you should treat as annual bulbs do keep flowering I have found year after year if you plant deep enough! Good luck with yours, hopefully you will have a riot of colour.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anne. I have heard that Red Shine and Ballerina come back successfully, so I thought I'd experiment. I am hopeful of a riot of colour, but I'll take photos whatever happens.
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
I am sure your planning and patience will pay off. I love Tulips and especially when bulk planted like this. I can't wait to see your blooms next Spring, so exciting!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks, Hannapat. I love seeing huge drifts of tulips too, sadly, I can't do that in my little garden, but at least I can enjoy having tubs and pots of colour dotted about. I'll be sure to post about the tulips next year - whether they do well, or not!
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Such pretty colours! I do wish we had room for more tulips in the garden here :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Annie. I don't really have that much room myself, but that is where the pots and tubs come in. I am hoping there will be a few bursts of colour around the garden. I particularly like these bright colours in tulips as they just look 'right', but as the seasons move on, the garden turns more to pinks, purples and pastels, although I have introduced some reds and yellows for late summer and autumn. I'll post some photos of the tulips next Spring.
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Hi Ellie,
ReplyDeleteI found you via Stins Place.
I was curious about you since your comment there made me believe you were a cat lover.
And indeed, I was right: you have 3 cats, just as I do.
Furthermore I'm surprised to read we have another thing in common: I absolutely adore gardening. I also planted tulips this week though I must admit that yours are way way more coloufull and more beautiful than anything I've ever grown in my garden.
Have a nice evening,
Brigitte from Belgium
http://homeiswherethedachshundis.blogspot.be/
Hello, welcome and thanks, Brigitte. I am indeed a cat lover and I also love gardening! I only have a small town garden but it is crammed with plants and pots full of plants too. I have to admit that the only photo of my tulips is the first one, of the bright orange Ballerina, which was my absolute favourite last Spring. The other photos are of ones I have bought and planted but they are from the website of the bulb supplier. If only mine look like that next Spring - I shall keep hoping. I shall go and have a look at your blog too.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a good week too.
Best wishes
Ellie