Last weekend while many of you were busy in the kitchen prepping for your Thanksgiving dinner, I was in my front garden planting tulip and allium bulbs. It was a warm, bright sunny day…not like in past years when my fingers were frozen to the bone!
Relative to a serious gardener (like Martha!), I’m just a rookie, making many rookie mistakes. These mistakes are not only time consuming, but over the long run, can be costly.
A friend who was visiting last week noticed that I had started digging holes to plant the tulips. She questioned my strategy, saying she digs a trough instead. I had already started writing this post at that time and read about how professional gardeners (and serious gardeners like Martha Stewart) lay out a plan and plant 100’s of tulips at once. This ultimately guarantees a much superior showing in the spring. My method is slow, backbreaking and offers only a spotty display.
Admittedly, my garden space is a fraction of the size in comparison, but as I was plodding along, I had an “ah-ah” moment. Next spring, I want to fill in the blank spaces by layering from back to front to create a more lush landscape. I now have a varied selection of white hydrangea, which makes up the foundation planting, but I need more variety to add foliage interest and flowering perennials that bloom throughout the spring/summer season. I visualize the tulips I just planted fitting in nicely, but over the winter, I will be thinking of what else I can plant to complement this plan, all the while keeping in mind the formal design I’ve started. My front garden faces north, so hostas and ferns may be good options.
PS: These are the last of the peonies that I’ve saved in my fridge since June. A bouquet of spring flowers in October is all the encouragement I need to start planning for next year.
xox Judy
The peonies are amazing! I admit I had my doubts …….
Hi Diane, I know it seems too good to be true, but it really does work. The key is not to get moisture in the bag you are storing the peonies in. This will cause rot. I like to have a little contest, with myself, to see if I can have peonies at Thanksgiving! xox Judy❤️
I was amazed when I went to my fridge downstairs about a month ago, and there was the bag with the batch of peonies. I had forgotten they were there. My sister-in-law received them when we went over for a BBQ. Thanks for that tip Judy!
Not quite as ambitious as you, I planted about 30 tulip bulbs and 20 Aliums. I like the idea of the trench instead of individuals holes. Thank you for sharing that tip.
Astilbe is a beautiful perennial that I have planted with Hosta in the shade in my back yard. I like it because of the beautiful colors it comes in and the plume like flowers last quite a long time.
Hi Karen, you will have something to look forward to in the spring too! Astible is a good suggestion for the front garden and the white varieties would fit in nicely. I do have a pink variety in another area in my garden that is usually a reliable bloomer…with the exception of this past year…hopefully that is not an indication of what is to come. xox Judy❤️
Yes, my deep pink Astilbe in the shade did not do well this summer, but nothing did in my backyard. All my plants were stunted in size and blossoms. I think it was just too darn hot. I hope this is not going to be a weather trend. I like cacti, but …
Hi Karen, I hope so too, because if this is our new weather conditions we may have to rethink all of our perennials and shrubs. xox Judy❤️