I have been reading a wonderful book this week on ‘Tulips’- Species and Hybrids for the Gardenerby Richard Wilford. It is an informative book about the history and geography of tulips that gives the reader vivid descriptions of the hillsides, gorges and steppes of Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia that are home to species tulips. Bearing flowers in a wide range of rich vibrant colors and interesting shapes and sizes, species tulips reward your careful and considerate planting with a year after year show of magnificent flowers!

Did you know that these little beauties are ideally suited to growing in containers, raised beds and rock gardens? Did you know that the reason we have a hard time getting tulips to come back year after year is because we water them too much in the summer? Tulips love to dry out in the summer months, going dormant and resting for a period of time before going back under soil, making new roots and blooming again. Some gardeners will remove bulbs from the soil every summer after die back occurs and save them to plant next season.

I am thinking of building a rock garden bed, adding a sharp draining sand and compost soil so I can plant more arid loving plants to grow in and around the dormant tulips in the summer. Small helianthimums (sun rose) or hardy geraniums will spread out to cover the older tulip leaves that absolutely need to die back naturally.

Fertilize and water regularly the actively growing and blooming tulips until they finish blooming. Also, consider choosing a collection of old planters you may have stacked in the garden shed to plant some bulbs into. Plant and drop these pots into a bed of sand or a cold frame for the winter. Planting in containers enables you the opportunity to put the colorful flowers anywhere you wish in the garden come spring. Especially anywhere the munching deer will not be!!

Speaking of munching deer, did you know that deer dislike narcissus/ daffodils? The taste is not palatable to our 4-legged marauders so plant to your heart’s content. There are many varieties available this season and all are very reasonably priced. There are the big yellow King Alfred Daffodils, Yellow Trumpet Daffodils and ‘Red Devon’ a yellow trumpet with a red center. Mt. Hood, a gorgeous white daffodil, along with the smaller Tete-a-Tete, yellow and Jetfires, yellow with orange centers. Try some of the multicolor double narcissus blends this year for outstanding cut flowers next spring. Mix and match, plant in loose good draining soil and you will be rewarded with a beautiful heartwarming display of color when spring arrives.