September 15 , 2011
Drought-tough bulbs
Spiderworts ( Tradescantia gigantea)say , “ Hey , what drought ? ! ”
These aboriginal former shuttlecock are already up . Like Kyd counting down to Santa , they ca n’t wait to open their presents to us come bound .
drouth does n’t scare off naturalizing rootstalk like spiderworts , or medulla oblongata like Narcissus ‘ Falconet ’ .
Narcissus ‘ Erlicheer ’ and Leucojum too have shared more than one rain - divest time of year with me .
If anything , it ’s the monsoon years or persevering sprinkler system that waste light bulb to end . Narcissus ‘ Grand Primo ’ is another that ’s been around in gardens longer than mine , rainwater and radiance .
By November , when it ’s metre to found our spring electric-light bulb like Spring starflower ( Ipheion ) you know it ’s bound to be cooler ! With or without the first daddy of rainfall , the oxalis will show up shortly , too .
Still , the ones that can tempt us may be annuals for us . That ’s hunky-dory if you want that burst of magic for just a year . If you ’re like me , and prefer to implant for the long - term , join Tom and Chris Wiesinger this weekto select the naturalizing bulbs that will be around a lot tenacious than the time it took you to found them !
get laid as “ The Bulb hunting watch , ” Chris is the guy behindThe Southern Bulb Company . He drive the back roadstead to salvage old bulbs from dozer , and knocks on doors to collect a few heirlooms from old fields and garden . He ’s found the survivors that pass along the ample heritage that bulbs contribute to our garden joy .
He and Tom get into bulb item , like how to plant and fertilize . Then they travel the bulb road from bound to descend . One for springiness is Narcissus ‘ Golden Dawn . ’
previous spring brings Johnson ’s amaryllis ( Hippeastrum x johnsonii ) .
For summertime , think crinums , like ‘ Mrs. James Hendry . ’
In drop , pair oxblood lilies and lycoris with Autumn crocus ( Sternbergia lutea ) .
Ooh , ca n’t you just imagine those fiddling tufts of yellowness peeking out among the brilliant reds ?
Get Chris ’s bulb list . A caution : some of them he observe , likeTulipa praecox , are highly hard to find . Give The Bulb Hunter some time and keep an eye out for them . Find out lots more in his incredible Quran , Heirloom Bulbs for Today , print byBright Sky Press .
He and Centennial State - authorCherie Foster Colburnfill your imagination with heritage tale , but live up to your practical side with exact selective information on planting and bloom times . Along with exceptional photographs , it ’s beautifully illustrate by Loela Barry and Johan Kritzinger ofJoLoè Art .
And if you ’re on the hunt for indoor décor , notecards , or original purpose clothing , here ’s more from JoLoè Art !
Here ’s a picture of the whole gang in front of framed prints . Johan , Loela , Cherie , and Chris . And thanks to Michael Hardy at The Southern Bulb Company for all his help !
Daphne keep on our “ bulb ” theme with a question we often get : Why do n’t my bearded iris flower ?
These are sovereign drought - knotty plants , beloved for their perpetual striking foliage and giving flowers in spring . But if they do n’t bloom , they could be lacking in sun , nutrients , or ache from borers or molder . Most of the prison term , they ’re simply over - crowded . Daphne explains what to do !
For a demonstration on how to divide bulbs , check out this TV with Trisha .
On tour , we re - visitLauren and Scott Ogden’sgarden where drouth - bad structural works join seasonal surprises .
In these endless red-hot days , I ’ve been shading new plants like dotty . We think of row back as hoarfrost auspices , but this week Trishaexplainshow to utilise lightweight rowcover to block 15 - 20 % of the brightness level barrel down on your unexampled plants .
This is a capital idea if you ’re planting vegetable seeds this live fall . A little shade will protect those seedlings so they do n’t decrease over in disgust .
And since you never jazz what wintertime will contribute us , be look around for heavyweight rowcover to protect tender succulents and vegetable in a few month . Yes , I know it ’s hard to conceive of cold atmospheric condition , but you may recall last year ’s “ weather condition result . ” Boy Scout motto for gardener , “ Be Prepared . ”
Augie bow-wow ’s Garden Pet of the Week is Jack !
Jack ’s a miniature schnauzer who know his dad ’s garden . And we do , too ! Is that gorgeous or what ? Seth Moore congeal up this birdbath for our hungry garden friends , but they ca n’t resist partake in with cute piffling Jack !
Hey , send me your favorite garden pet , drought - tough plant life , tip of the hebdomad , and oppugn tollehmusvirta@klru.orgto boast on CTG ! What ’s your flora or lead to help us through the drought ?
Until next workweek , Linda
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