Tulips and Narcissus in the Dry Garden For the last two autumns I have planted about a thousand tulips in the garden. During recent work in the main border, I inadvertently dug up some of these bulbs. Many had grown several baby bulbs in the course of one season. This is probably down to several factors. We had a wonderfully warm, dry summer and autumn in 2014. The main border, where they're largely planted, is south-facing and sunny. And the soil in that part of the garden, in particular, is exceptionally gritty and free-draining - a nightmare for some gardeners, but a condition I appreciate, since it is means bulbs will thrive.
I plant my tulips as deep as I can manage, with a good sprinkle of bonemeal, to support root growth. Grit is unnecessary. Other than that, I leave them alone, letting the foliage die back to the ground before removing it.
I plant my tulips as deep as I can manage, with a good sprinkle of bonemeal, to support root growth. Grit is unnecessary. Other than that, I leave them alone, letting the foliage die back to the ground before removing it.
In praise of 'Single Lates'
In my first season I planted a wide range of tulips: my first tulip season was that some tulips work much better as display flowers than others - in particular, single lates. These have simple goblet shaped flowers, and tall, strong, stiff stems. The flowers last well even in wet conditions, and the foliage does not "creep" up the stems, as it does with double cultivars like "Angelique."
In my first season I planted a wide range of tulips: my first tulip season was that some tulips work much better as display flowers than others - in particular, single lates. These have simple goblet shaped flowers, and tall, strong, stiff stems. The flowers last well even in wet conditions, and the foliage does not "creep" up the stems, as it does with double cultivars like "Angelique."
Tulips in the Wild Garden. Magnolia stellata and Leucojum flower in the background.
Recommended Pink Tulips
I found the following pinks worked really well: Dordogne - a pink flushed with orange; Menton, a similar multi-tonal pink orange; and Pink Diamond, a very soft pale pink. These work well planted with soft whites like Angels Wish, and Blushing Girl, a lilac-edged ivory white. (Images below from Peter Nyssen.)
I found the following pinks worked really well: Dordogne - a pink flushed with orange; Menton, a similar multi-tonal pink orange; and Pink Diamond, a very soft pale pink. These work well planted with soft whites like Angels Wish, and Blushing Girl, a lilac-edged ivory white. (Images below from Peter Nyssen.)
Recommended Yellow Tulips
I particularly love yellow flowering plants - roses, narcissus, crocus, tulips. So I've planted up a semi-circular raised rockery in a yellow and white colour scheme, with muscari, crocus, narcissus, tulips, and Dutch irises, to provide sustained colour from late winter through early summer. I'm excited to see how this works out.
Here are the tulips I've included in the area. Daydream - a yellow turning apricot to orange; Golden Apeldoorn - as the name implies, a lovely golden yellow; Big Smile - a bright lemony yellow with unusually egg shaped flowers; and Fringed Elegance - a fringed primrose yellow. I've combined these with Ivory Florade - a creamy ivory yellow, and Swan Wings - a fringed pure white. (Images below from Peter Nyssen.)
I particularly love yellow flowering plants - roses, narcissus, crocus, tulips. So I've planted up a semi-circular raised rockery in a yellow and white colour scheme, with muscari, crocus, narcissus, tulips, and Dutch irises, to provide sustained colour from late winter through early summer. I'm excited to see how this works out.
Here are the tulips I've included in the area. Daydream - a yellow turning apricot to orange; Golden Apeldoorn - as the name implies, a lovely golden yellow; Big Smile - a bright lemony yellow with unusually egg shaped flowers; and Fringed Elegance - a fringed primrose yellow. I've combined these with Ivory Florade - a creamy ivory yellow, and Swan Wings - a fringed pure white. (Images below from Peter Nyssen.)
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