The mailman delivered a package this afternoon. I have been both dreading and looking forward to its arrival. Tucked inside is the promise of beauty. Three years ago, I planted 300 tulip bulbs in my front garden bed and waited for spring. They rewarded me with a spectacular show that took my breath away and garnered the neighbor’s comments.
There are tricks to growing tulips in my zone, as they don’t naturalize easily. Those methods require enjoying the flowers, letting the foliage dieback, and then lifting the bulbs from the ground. You must wash, dry and store any undamaged bulbs in a cool, low humidity environment until it is time to plant them again in the fall. The process helps to ensure the bulb’s health and encourages vigorous spring flowering.
I follow a different course. I elect to not lift and replant them but let them remain in situ. The result is fewer annual blooms. This year, a sprinkling of tulips raised their heads, but the showing was unacceptable. I will dig 300 six-inch-deep holes, sprinkle in a bit of fertilizer, add the bulb, tamp it in and move to the next. It is backbreaking toil that won’t produce results until late April.
What are you planting today?
_________________________________________
Keep on writing.
Jo Hawk The Writer
Sounds lush, I’ll be watching the semi finals of the rugby World Cup in my dressing gown with tea. Weather here is awful
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, it is cold and rainy here, which should make for easy digging. I hope you enjoy your rugby game and your tea. ☕
LikeLike
The weather is foul, so I will be planting my backside on my office chair and catching up with all the activity on my book tour. First things first!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha It sounds like you have a wonderful day planned. Best wishes with your book tour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jo…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I live wallflowers and have planted a lot. I have a tub full of last year’s bulbs I had in tubs. I an waiting for it to stop raining so I can plant them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think we are in the same boat. I adore spring flowers since the signal the end of winter. I would plant crocus but the squirrels here eat them. 🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the reblog, Charles. 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
My Pleasure!! xoxo 😁👍🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person