I don't know what made me do it, but last Fall I planted over one hundred tulip bulbs. Thank heavens. The rest of the spring garden is a dud. Everything came up at once and didn't last as long as usual. My three cherry trees up front made an appearance one day, stayed pretty for less than a week and then goodbye. Just like the song in the Sound of Music, Farewell, Goodbye!
So long, farewell,auf wiedersehen, good night.
I hate to go and leave this pretty sight.
So long, farewell auf wiedersehen, adieu
Adieu, adieu, to you and you and you.
I hate to go and leave this pretty sight.
So long, farewell auf wiedersehen, adieu
Adieu, adieu, to you and you and you.
Some early bloomers, like the forsythia, were extraordinary this year but the problem was Spring came so late they are all tripping over each other. With the tulips still in bloom and the daffodils just fading here come the azaleas! It's a zoo out there. Just last week we had two mornings with temperatures below freezing...madness. We are now dressing like the San Franciscans, in layers!
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On the bad news side are the gardenias. The Sous Chef was right. They are deader than a door nail. Although my yardman wants to take the pruners to them, I've been told to wait until the 15th. Every morning I lean over the deck rail in anticipation of some green. Nada. Should they come back it will indeed be a miracle. Last year I had so many blooms I had to give some away. Gardening is such a trial.
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Then there are the peonies. They are coming out like gang busters. Even the ones that didn't come up in the past are finally showing their faces. As the saying goes...God takes with one hand and gives with the other, or is it the other way around?
The Astilbes look beautiful (you can see some in the back of the tulips) but I think I have lost two of my Artemisas, those beautiful light grey perennials I had in front of the house. And the Pinks? I have no idea what happened to them although my love affair with Roundup might be partially to blame.
Anyway, enjoy the tulips because a lot of the rest of the garden looks like this
Those lilac and white tulips have a delicacy not often associated with the flower, so despite the disappointments, there is still something to be pleased about. Incidentally, I share your reluctance to discard any plant while one speck of green is left. --Jim
ReplyDeleteI agree Jim, they look very delicate. The unusually cold temperatures we had this winter did wonders for some things in the garden, like the tulips and hopefully peonies, and ransacked the rest. I am not giving up on my gardenias, not yet Next week I will trim them by a third and hope for the best. I have already spent a fortune in organic fertilizers. By May I will know for sure. Keeping my fingers crossed.
DeleteOh Julieta, how sad about your gardenias. I remember them from last year. Yes, gardening is a chore but look at those tulips. Beautiful, enjoy!
ReplyDeleteyes Sandra, I am looking at the bright side too. Keeping fingers crossed for the gardenias, though. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous pink!!! Do tell: what are they? I know, you plant 100 bulbs and while it's great, when they actually bloom it is just NEVER enough, right? As to the other shrubs, well, we've all had those problems. We're about to pull out our 4 yr. old Jasmine: it died a slow death this winter. And the gardenias. And the lavender. And I'm sure there's more… Well, today I planted a gorgeous planter with succulents; to go in a very hot, sunny spot so we will see. At the rate we're going, the summer is going to be cool and overcast!
ReplyDeleteThe pinks came in a mix of pinks, purples and whites from Costco. Now I don't know!
DeleteWe've planted some succulents too. We'll have t compare.
Your tulips are gorgeous and you were so smart to plant a bunch of them. Ours, I guess, bloomed in early February and we always miss them. We've got lots of gardening disasters too, plus our crazy gardener cut our prize hydrangea to the ground. When we see him, he better have a really, really good reason.......
ReplyDeleteSam
Yep he'd better but I bet it will come back strong and beautiful...just a tad shorter! You should have seen all the garden centers this weekend. They will make a bundle this year. Wait til you go shopping for herbs. They are puny. Costco had them at $2 a piece. Bought some nice ones at the grocery store. Start looking if you want a decent herb garden this year.
DeleteToday in Kansas after having a few 75 degree days, it's in the 30s with 20s overnight. I lost my heart to flowering trees and shrubs and so far the magnolias bloomed in the seam of spring. The redbuds are up and the crabapples are in bud. That's the positive. It's gonna' break my heart when the trees and shrubs show me which ones died during this impossible winter/spring. Being a gardener is not for the faint of heart. Your tulips are lovely. Focus on the tulips!
ReplyDeleteI know, Home, I know. Most of us are devastated; but I am sure that you will find something new in your garden that will make up for it. For me it was the tulips and the peonies which promise to be spectacular.
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