Thursday, April 18, 2013

Tulips for April

Tulipa 'Persian Pearl' in our garden this week.
Tulipa 'Persian Pearl' in our garden this week.
Spring is in overdrive here in Pennsylvania. I took another walk around our garden today and I already see so much change from Monday tour for Garden Blogger's Bloom Day! The weather has been sunny and in the 60's, and we just had a few nice days of saturating rain last week.  The plants are zooming ahead to catch up to their normal April schedule, which was delayed this year.

These two tulips are sure to add some color to your April days! They are both very early bloomers, do well in containers, and have perennialized well here in well drained planting medium.
Tulipa 'Persian Pearl' in a pot on our back steps. Ivy and Sedum 'Acre' cover all of the ground on our slope and curb strip.
Tulipa 'Persian Pearl' in a pot on our back steps. Ivy and Sedum 'Acre' cover all of the ground on our slope and curb strip.
The yellow center of Tulipa 'Persian Pearl'. They made a great combination last year with Narcissus 'Tete-e-tete'.
The yellow center of Tulipa 'Persian Pearl'. They made a great combination last year with Narcissus 'Tete-e-tete'.
On the Hill Garden, Tulipa 'Ice Stick' are reblooming again this year. Again, they make a great combination with Narcissus 'Tete-e-tete'. Last year, these were blooming in March!  Bulbs tend to perennialize better in areas that are very dry in the summer months. Most bulbs detest wet feet, excepting a  special few that are actually damp-lovers, like Camassia.
On the Hill Garden, Tulipa 'Ice Stick' are reblooming this year. They too make a great combination with Narcissus 'Tete-e-tete'. Last year, these were blooming in March!  Bulbs tend to perennialize better in areas that are very dry in the summer months. Most bulbs detest wet feet, excepting a  special few that are actually damp-lovers, like Camassia.
The purple flames on Tulipa 'Ice Stick' helps to create some beautiful spring color combinations. This unusual tulip is a Kaufmanniana Hybrid, which is 12 inches tall. HZ: 4-8.
The purple flames on Tulipa 'Ice Stick' helps to create some beautiful spring color combinations. This unusual tulip is a Kaufmanniana Hybrid, which is 12 inches tall. HZ: 4-8.
The Hill Garden has really come alive in the past two weeks! The purple Phlox subulata will soon be in bloom and topped with salmon Darwin tulips. :)
The Hill Garden has really come alive in the past two weeks! The purple Phlox subulata will soon be in bloom and topped with salmon Darwin tulips. :)

22 comments:

  1. So pretty! We don't have much luck with tulips where I live, although there are a few varieties tough enough to make a brief, Spring showing. You have so many in your garden; it's amazing to me.

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  2. The potted 'Persian Perl' certainly cheer my coming and goings down the steps to work!

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  3. They both certainly pack a punch! Persian Pearl - I planted that last autumn and the buds are just plumping up! I hope they look as good as yours!

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  4. Beautiful these small botanical tulips.

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  5. I'm a big fan of species tulips. My favorites are 'Fusilier' and turkestanica. I also like your Persian Pearl!

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    1. Me too, Jason. And since we live in colder areas, it is so nice to see their color earlier in spring instead of having to wait until May.
      ~Julie

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  6. I love tulips, my favourite flowers actually, but I've very soon learned they detest wet feet, much more than any other bulb, so I haven't got much tulips in our very wet garden. I had a lot of them in pots though for many years. But last year was a big disaster when all the tulipbulbs froze in their pots. That's why this year I haven't got that many tulips in pot and I planted them really late to be sure they wouldn't freeze. Actually bought them on sale in january and planted them in february. I see something coming up in the pots, wonder what it'll give. Glad I didn't put any bulbs in pots in autumn cause we did have a severe winter again.
    Thanks for sharing the little Persian pearls with us. They are exquisite!
    Bye,
    Marian

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    1. Marian,
      I have had trouble over wintering tulips in pots also. Mine look ok this year, but it is tricky taking them in and out of the garage over and over! Glad you have found a way to make it work for you!
      ~Julie

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  7. I love the way the sun lights up your tulips, especially those raspberry colored ones. Just gorgeous. I'm glad you're having a nice spring. This time of year everything grows so fast, doesn't it? Enjoy.

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  8. You have a beautiful garden Julie. I had the unfortunate experience of realizing all my newly planted tulips were eaten last night by deer. Luckily, I can still see spring tulips on your blog. They are beautiful.
    Susan

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    1. UGH! So sorry Susan! How frustrating. I hope you are enjoying the rest of your spring flowers without snow :) Flurries here this morning!
      ~Julie

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  9. I do agree Persian Pearl is very pretty, I planted some last autumn after seeing yours last year, but I was a little disappointed that they didn’t flower for very long, only about 10 days in total and it wasn’t very hot then. I’m hoping they will establish in my garden too, so that at least there will be a real impact of colour. T. Ice Stick looks fun, I like the stripes. Happy Spring Julie! Christina

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    1. Glad you gave them a try! Perhaps they will do better next year? I would not call them long-flowering here either, but I would not really call any of my spring flowers long-flowering. They are glorious in their moment, and then they are done. But I live for spring, so I just take a lot of photos to make it last longer :)
      ~Julie

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  10. Beautiful - love the hill garden especially and the Persian Pearl.

    Visting from Hometalk

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  11. Your Tulips are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing them. I don't plant Tulips anymore because the rabbits eat them down to the ground. My neighborhood is just wild enough to have large populations of rabbits, but not enough high-end predators. Anyway, lovely blooms!

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    1. I just dismantled a bunny nest in our backyard the other day... I hope she finds another yard to keep her hungry babies! Thanks, Beth!
      ~Julie

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  12. Very pretty. I absolutely love that first photo.

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  13. So nice to see all the tulips I cannot keep due to the local deer.

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