Bulb alert

It's April! Have you ordered your bulbs yet? I don't typically plant a lot of bulbs each year, but I always get some. I like to try something new or add more of a favorite that's done well for me in the past. Since I also like to order from specialty nurseries like Old House Gardens, Brent and Becky's Bulbs and Odyssey Bulbs, I know that I will be out of luck if I wait until summer to place my order. So for the last few years, I've been ordering my fall-planted bulbs in March. This year I'm getting two Tulip varieties that I've looked at in the past and decided now's the moment to try them. 

Tulip sylvestris:

OHG says this heirloom plant is violet-scented with "small, yellow, almond-shaped flowers that nod in bud and then open wide in the sun. Gerard pictured it in his great Herbal of 1597" and Thomas Jefferson grew it at Monticello. Also known as the  ""Florentine Tulip,"  T. sylvestris grows 8-14 inches tall and is hardy in zones 5a-8a.

This Tulip is unusual in that it is generally considered a perennial performer if it is happy and it is often grown in woodland settings. I am thinking of trying some bulbs near Erythronium 'Pagoda" and purple Epimediums and others near some pink and yellow Erythroniums and Fritillaries.

What I need to do next is take photos this spring so I know where to plant the bulbs when the arrive in the fall. And I need to mark those spots in some way as well.  

Tulipa whittallii

According to "The Plant Lover's Guide to Tulips" from the Kew series of guide books, T. whittallii is a species Tulip that is supposedly one of the best that can be grown in the open garden. It blooms in various shades of orange set off with a dark, round heart and is up to 12" tall with narrow leaves. The book notes that though it comes from Turkey, it is "surprisingly adaptable to cooler, wetter regions."

I planted a clumps of bronze and orange Tulips under our weeping purple Beech last fall. I put them in a rough row behind a swath of Astilbes. I am hoping I can shoehorn T. wittallii bulbs among the Astilbes which will hide the dying foliage. I like the idea of slightly shorter, more delicate Tulips contrasting with the big blowzy ones. 

The leaves of the purple Beech unfurl in lovely warm peach color with mauve and bronze overlay. The Astilbes emerge with very dark foliage — all of which should do well with the Tulip colors. Certainly it looks fabulous in my mind's eye. We will see how it looks in person eventually.

Comments

[Beth @ PlantPostings]

Those combinations do seem like they'll be very pleasant! I don't plant Tulips anymore because the rabbits eat them. Only fencing works (tried everything else) to keep them away. I might try plopping some in the middles of rings of Daffodils; we'll see. Good reminder to order bulbs early! My favorite bulb companies are Brent and Becky's and Colorblends.

[Linda Brazill]

It just occurred to me from your comments, that all my tulips are in the planting island in the middle of the street. I have not put any out in the garden in years. We'll see how this all works out!

[Peter/Outlaw]

These two species tulips look and sound pretty sweet. T. Sylvestris, happy growing in woodland situations sounds perfect for my less-than-sunny areas. Orange tulips with that bronze foliage would look really stunning. Thanks for the reminder to order early.

[Frank]

Those are some nice tulips!
I did place an order, but reading this has made me nervous I didn't order enough. Maybe another online visit wouldn't be the worst idea.... just to look of course, plus the cold leaves me with little else to do!

[Linda Brazill]

The problem with bulbs is that one orders in the spring, plants in the fall and then waits until the next spring to see the results. So I am always making combos that are never all quite there at the same time — at least not for a few years.

[Linda Brazill]

I did not really order than many. I think only 25 of the yellow and 15 of the orange. That is sort of a lot for me but not much for most folks.

My husband just looked out the window and said it is lightly snowing. Temp has gone down from 27 degrees when he got up early this a.m. Our overnight low is going down to 16 degrees. Not really atypical but certainly depressing.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

These tulips sound yummy. I am always impressed that you plan so far ahead. I never seem to. It sounds good though.