Our tulips put on a lovely show for weeks. Thanks to all of you for encouraging me to give them a second chance. Years ago I planted a big batch of tulips from Costco and not a single one came up. My friend, Bob, thinks the squirrels made off with them instead.
One of the cool things about keeping a gardening blog is the log. With over a year of blogging, I can refer back to planting schedules, what worked, what didn’t and all the wonderful comments you post. It takes a village to plant an awesome garden. I love that. ♥
Here’s what I’ll be referring to this fall when I buy and chill garden bulbs:
Tulip Angelique
Angéliqué
Planted: 15
Survived: 4
Thrived: 2
I might try again, but in a different location. They’re stunning, but just didn’t take off.
Tulip ‘Attila’
Attila
Planted 15
Survived: 12
Thrived: 12
These will definitely be back next year.
Tulip ‘Passionale’
Passionale
Planted 5
Survived: 5
Thrived: 5
Also a winner, the Passionale tulips were the first up and the longest-lasting.
The not so dirty dozen
I thought I would feel wistful as the tulips faded, but signs of spring are in abundance everywhere. Farewell, garden beauties. Till next year.
Are you seeing signs of spring, too?
Gardening Nirvana 
How appropriate your blog title today…I’m heading to Washington and the skagit valley to the tulip festival :-). Miss you Alys!
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((Kristi))) What timing, eh? I miss you too. Have a wonderful time at the festival (I know you will). Please share digital photos when you return, ok?
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I love your tulips! No wonder I can’t get my garden under control – I have no village! My tulips are starting to bloom but I can’t seem to get the weeds around them under control for very long.
Spashionista (Alicia)
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LOL, Alicia! I’m a weed Ninja. They never get far in my garden. Further, we’ve had a pathetic amount of rain this season, so little to support those flying weed-seeds. The Dandelions are showing up in the lawn, but I’ve got my garden fork handy and they’ve all been put on notice.
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Thanks for your kind words, as always.
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Alys make sure that the ones that didn’t so good get food when you plant them we had a time with that with ours. I have never dug mine up once I planted them but yes Squirrels love them
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I’ve left other bulbs in the ground, but thought the tulips needed to be tricked into thinking they had a hard frost. It sounds like you’ve had success just leaving them there.
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Oh also some of them do much better in a pot spot rather than in the ground don’t ask me why so you might try the stunning Angéliqué in a pot . OH and never store them near apples!!!
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Thanks, Sheila. The ones that came up were in a pot, but only two really bloomed. I still see three our four, but they’re stunted. Conversely, the tulips in the back garden were in two different pots and in the ground and most of them did well.
Those squirrels are a crafty bunch, aren’t they. I found one rotted bulb in my search today, but can’t tell what might simply be missing.
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We haven’t been able to swing two back to back nice days in Chicago yet, but hopefully that changes soon. It will be nice seeing some color back in the world.
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Will, that much gloomy weather wears on you, doesn’t it? I hope the sun comes out soon.
Thanks for commenting.
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All the tulips are beautiful. As always, the photography is gorgeous.I think my favorite is the Attila (where do they get these names?)!
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Thank you, Sharon. They are fun to photograph, with such rich colors and texture.
Bonus: I never have to ask them to keep their eyes open!
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tulipe au revoir doux, vous êtes enchanteur
I’m sorry to hear you had such a rotten turn out of Angelic. I remember recommending them. Well, that ‘ONE’ is purdy :D. But honestly, that’s dismal isn’t it? How disappointing. I’m wondering if that package of bulbs was off? Were you able to dig up the duds or had the squirrels snitched them? I tended to plant only what I knew would be reliable, gaps in the garden are the pits and it’s a shame to waste the time, effort and money. Darn hey? Well the others are (were) spectacular. Are you going to start planting Annuals now? I guess we still have a good two months to go.
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Sorry you have to wait so long for spring, Boomdee. As I’ve watched your weather reports over this past year, I’ve really learned to appreciate how good we have it, weather-wise.
I think I had a bad batch of bulbs. Several came up but only about half as tall as the one pictured and they never bloomed. I dug up one more in another pot and it was rotting. It broke apart in my hands. They are pretty and I’m glad I planted them. But, yeah…darn.
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I didn’t know you’ve been watching our weather? You’re a good friend xoK. Isn’t it a disappointment this week? I was out today and it was so cold, -3 C with a wind and no sun. It didn’t help that I wore a skirt with my aqua runners and a jean jacket, HA I just didn’t want to wear winter stuff, I so darn tired of it . I’m pretty sure it’s going to snow again, that’s what they are saying. I can’t wait to have some tulips to look forward too 😀
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My tulips are but a little poke in the soils right now. Beautiful choices!
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Thank you! It sounds like yours will be along soon, now. I hope you’ll post photos when they do.
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So beautiful!
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Thank you! It’s hard not to feel happy in the presence of a tulip, isn’t it?
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