I didn’t plant any bulbs this year. In fact, I think I dislike planting bulbs more than weeding. I am a great reader of labels and it causes me great anguish as I put the bulbs into the soil. I worry – have I placed them too deeply or are they too near the surface. I try to measure, I try to avoid disturbing the roots of other plants no longer visible.
Then there is the weather. The ground can often be dry and very unwilling to give way to my prodding and digging.
If planting bulbs is difficult – I find that not buying them is even more difficult and going a step further – restraining my husband from surreptitiously sliding a large packet into the trolley.
It’s during our visits to the UK after the bulb planting season has passed and the prices of bulbs are slashed and you feel almost obliged to re-home them.
The illustrations on the packets of bulbs are so tempting. You don’t think of crouching in the borders in the cold trying to find a space for the new arrivals.
But last year I was strong and resisted temptation.
Now I feel I have been too harsh. The crocus have been flowering from the 13 February and are just finishing now. They provide patches of bright colour at what has been a dull time of year and have flowered even more plentifully than last year.
They are starting to be overshadowed by the other bulbs which are arriving now.
But by the time the daffodils arrive I am becoming much more blasé about the flowers opening out.
The crocus don’t smell as good as the hyacinth but they lift my spirits and they brighten the garden for more than a month.
I really regret all the muttering that went on as I planted the bulbs in previous years. They have more than rewarded me for the time and money spent and hopefully I’ll see even more of them next year.
You have some wonderful colours of crocus there!
I’m a bit like your husband I think… I like the colour that bulbs bring…
but Pauline is not a great fan of planting them, either.
I never worry how deep… I use the following rule and it seems to work…
base of bulb sitting at a depth of twice the height…
same for crocus corms… although I had to rescue some that were in “the front bed” and just jammed them back in with a covering of soil and a “Here be crocus” label… they have given a ‘bootiful’ show this year.
One of our fellow allotmenteers gave me that tip. He dug his daffs and narcis up each year, once the leaves died back, let them dry out and replanted in September. Same with his Gladioli…
only they’d overwinter in the greenhouse with the Dahlia corms.
We weren’t allowed to sell produce…
but I think he had a “market” for the cut stems!
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I’m sure it must be very good practice to dig up and replant your bulbs but I would only make myself do it if they were getting over crowded. He must be very committed.
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I, too , experienced “bulb fatigue” this year! I decided this year I was not going through the stress of having voles, squirrels, and the Summer heat and drought killing bulbs I spend good money in purchasing. So I am going to spend that money on annual! I hope we have plenty of rain this year!
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You have to go with what works best for your garden, I never pamper my plants but go for the kinds that grow easily. We have been suffering from low rainfall for a few years but this winter has been the wettest for about 40 years. I hope you get plenty of rain for your annuals.
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Hi
I really enjoyed this post, not least because it described my feelings about bulbs exactly! You have a lovely collection of crocuses. I especially like those really deep blue/purple ones nestling in with the yellow.
I am on a bit of a hiatus with blogging at he moment as I have a big deadline looming. I hope to be back in force later next month. All the best, Rachael
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You should be getting plenty of six-legged models to pose by that time. I’ll look forward to the new photographs (even if they all do not have six legs.)
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I am very lazy about planting bulbs. I put them and hope they will multiply as each year passes. Your flowers are lovely.
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I know the feeling but they do pay dividends in the end.
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I adore bulbs and have to restrain myself from buying too many! I was strong willed in 2011 and didn’t plant any but last year I added lots more. I love the way they fill that space between winter and the end of spring when everything flowers at once and I can’t resist the colours od tulips. Christina
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As time passes I appreciate the bulbs more. At the beginning they are not very rewarding, spaced out in the new borders but as you say they really herald in the spring flush.
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I’m experimenting this year with bulbs ‘in the green’ – at least I know that one year of bloom is guaranteed, and have instant gratification. It will be interesting to see if they come back next year.
I can’t seem to move on from planting daffodils – your article has inspired me to give crocuses a try, come October – thanks.
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Snowdrops are supposed to take better planted in the green but it is a bit late now for them. At least crocus are cheap so it doesn’t cost much to experiment and you’ll get some colour before your daffodils.
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You have a beatiful collection, which I’m sure makes all the trials and tribulations worth it. Bulbs are a great way to extend the growing season and gardens would be sadder places without them.
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I agree. This year I’m going to try and get some things established under the trees at the bottom of the garden that will come up in the spring and not mind the lack of light in the summer.
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Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) are very fragrant and prefer shade but I’m not sure if you have them there. They are a rugged plant that can stand a lot of dryness.
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Great minds…Lily of the valley grows very well here, it can take a bit to get established but then you’ve got it. I have already started with a small patch with under the trees that should come up at the end of April if they they have survived. I have also put in a few muscari bulbs but these are both at the edge as I have a lot of ivy to clear yet.
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Your collection is outstanding! We are still too cold here!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
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I think crocus are tremendous value for money, they give a lot of colour and cheer yet are not expensive.
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Your hyacinths and hellebore make a lovely combination. I find I can always count on daffodils ;-). The squirrels leave the bulbs alone, the deer and rabbits leave the foliage and flowers alone and they come back every year. They are a cheerful splash of colour on a rainy spring day.
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It’s hard to start of with bulbs but they are well worth the trouble.
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What wonderful color! Lucky you in your temperate climate, enjoying a warm spring full of flowers. Thanks for the vicarious experience!
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It’s great to share our different climates.
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I hear your thoughts and frustrations with bulbs, your results are, still, quite amazing. Your photos are gorgeous.
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I’m a very lazy gardener and I have to remind myself from time to time that the garden more than rewards any work I do!
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A lovely collection of colour. I am amazed how my few crocuses have multiplied since last year. Take care Diane
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Crocuses really pay back our attention with dividends, I’m glad you are happy with yours.
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I think you must be an expert planting bulbs. And so much revarded for the effort.
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No expertise was involved, Bente. The crocus does it all by itself all it asks is a hole in the ground.:)
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Absolutely gorgeous shots of the crocuses – so vivid!
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