Tulips

       Bulbs bloom so early, they often end up all alone in bare gardens. They look better when they're mixed in with some early foliage.

         Fire Chief Tulips with Euphorbia 'Jade Frost' and Thalictrum 'Elfin'.

Species bloom early and last long in the cool of the earliest Spring days. They only open when the sun shines. The buds open and close with the rising and setting of the sun. On overcast days the buds open only enough to test the waters.


Tulipa humilis violacea 

                                                                                                By the time these tulips bloom I've forgotten what kind I planted. This group starts out a rather ordinary yellow. They're 'nice', but thought we planted some outstanding tulips.

Two weeks later, the yellow flowers blush orange, mixed with swelling red buds of their companions - the kind of red that your mother warned you about.


Tulip Bastigone and Tequila Sunrise







Tulip Angelique with red lily-flowered tulips and Scilla, Hyacinthoides non-scripta. Watch out for Scilla, it will naturalize. I know this sounds like a good thing, but I've been paid to take it out of older gardens by the truckload.