Jun
16
Posted under
Flower bulb care
If you find yourself too impatient to wait on the spring to bring flowers, you can get spring flowers earlier by forcing bulbs indoors. It is wonderful to have tulips and crocuses blooming in your windowsill as you watch the snow fall outside.
Tips for forcing bulbs indoors:
#1. Garden centers begin selling spring bulbs in the fall since the bulbs need to be planted then to produce flowers outdoors in the spring. The best bulbs for forcing are tulips, hardy narcissus, hyacinths, crocuses and daffodils. Purchase your bulbs and while planting outdoors in fall, save a few of each type to force indoors.
#2. The bulbs need to be kept at a constant temperature of around 40 degrees for a 15 week period. This mimics winter. You can store your bulbs in your outdoor sheds, freezer or refrigerator for this 15 week period as long as the temperature remains at a constant 40 degrees or so. If you use the freezer method and if you have a frost free freezer, the air is much drier so check often to make sure the bulbs are moist. You do not want the bulbs to be too moist to cause rot, but drying out will damage or kill them. If you have room in the refrigerator, you can store bulbs in a paper bag with some moistened peat moss.
#3. After the 15 week winter period, you may plant the bulbs in small pots filled with potting soil or you can use small clear glass bowls filled with marbles. Place several in the potting soil so that the tips of the bulbs are sticking out from the dirt. Pay attention to the shape of the bulb when planting. The tip end where the stems and flowers emerge should be showing through the dirt when planting. If using marbles in a glass bowl, anchor the bulbs so when you add water on the bottom tips get wet. As the roots form, it may be necessary to change the water frequently. Make sure to keep the roots in water and the bulb resting out of the water.
#4. After sticking the bulbs in dirt or marbles, place the containers in a bright window sill. Keep the soil slightly moist until you see the shoots are about 3 to 4 inches tall. Do not fertilize. After the shoots have reached 4 inches, move the pots to a bright sun filled spot and wait until the buds form. After the buds start showing color, move them out of the bright sunshine and back to a bright indirect location. Keep the soil constantly moist during the flowering stage.
#5. After your flowers are spent and the leaves are yellowing, you can transplant them into your outdoor garden. They will not flower again outdoors until the following spring. If you want to save the bulbs to force inside next year, you need to reduce the amount of water. Only water enough to keep the leaves from wilting as they continue to die back. Cut and discard the flower stems and store the entire pot in a cool dry area. You can dig the bulbs back up and store them individually. Make sure these bulbs have enough air circulation to prevent rot and mold. You may wish to store them in dry peat moss in a cool dry area.
Forcing bulbs make very good Christmas gifts. Allow the 15 week period to coincide with the holidays. You can give as a kit, with the bulbs already planted and ready to sprout or give the container with the shoots already forming. Make sure to enclose a small card with the type of bulb and directions for taking care of it during and after blooming. Hyacinths are generally larger and will look good as a singular plant, although some people do not care for its highly fragrant odor. Tulips, crocuses, daffodils and narcissus look best when several bulbs are planted together. You can mix and match for a variety of colors and flowers.
May
05
Posted under
Flower bulb care
With fall just around the corner and the gardening season winding down, it’s hard to think about planting. But that’s exactly what you should do if you want to see some bright blooms early next spring. Tulips, daffodils, crocuses and other spring flowers start with bulbs planted in the fall.
What’s nice about these early spring flowers is that they are usually done blooming before perennials and other plants take over the flower bed. Keeping that in mind, take a walk around your yard and look at areas where you want to add some early color to your landscape in the spring. Garden catalogs with pictures of different types of bulbs can help you select the type and color of flowers you want in your yard.
Consider different heights and colors of plants and how they might look next to each other. A row of lavender tulips, for example, can provide the perfect backdrop for a row of shorter pink hyacinths. You may want to sketch out your plan on some paper to indicate where you would like to have spring flowers in your yard. This will also give you an idea of how many bulbs you will need to purchase.
If you are as comfortable around a computer as you are the garden, you can try landscaping software. Some programs let you plug in a picture of your home and simulate various plantings. While it might be a bit of overkill if you only want a spring flower plan, it can give you a more holistic approach to your landscaping. You can map out a strategy of what to plant so you will have blooms all summer long, not just in the spring.
You can also take the low-tech, no planning approach of a spring surprise. Try randomly planting different bulbs in flower beds and other areas of your yard. Consider planting some in areas of your lawn that are fairly protected like under trees or near your home. If the grass starts growing, you can always mow around the plants until they are done blooming. After a long winter, it’s a pleasant surprise to see colorful blooms popping out of the ground from bulbs you forgot about.
Most spring bulbs appear on shelves in September and October. If you are a bargain hunter and willing to take a little risk, watch for clearance sales on bulbs late in the fall at garden shops. I have planted these clearance bulbs late in the season with a decent success rate of blooms the following spring. Be sure to plant before the ground freezes.
While you are at the garden shop, be sure to buy a bulb-planting tool to simplify your work. Most spring bulbs should be planted at a depth of four inches or more, depending on the type of flower. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package and check how much space you should have between each bulb.
Once your bulbs are in the ground, you may need to protect your investment from deer, chipmunks and other garden invaders. A publication from University of Vermont Extension by Dr. Leonard Perry suggests placing fine mesh over your plantings to help prevent rodents and other animals from digging up your bulbs. After your flowers bloom, the same publication recommends leaving the leaves on the plants until they turn yellow to ensure the bulbs get enough nutrients for the next season.
With some advance planting and a little luck, your work in the fall will be rewarded the following spring. The bright blooms will help you forget about winter and get you motivated for another season of gardening.
Oct
19
Posted under
Flower bulb care
There is nothing quite as welcome as those beautiful spring flowers that seem to emerge from nowhere to welcome the arrival of spring. Bulb type flowers are really unique plants, because they spend most of their days resting quietly beneath the surface of the soil. Then right on schedule, up they come, full of bloom and vigor, and then almost as fast as they came, they go. Except for the green leafy part of the plant that tends to linger longer than we would like them to.
Despite their short bloom time and unattractive foliage after the blooms are gone, they are still a wonderful addition to any landscape. But how should you care for them? First lets talk about how to use them in your landscape. Flowers of all kinds are best when planted in groupings. Many people buy 25 or 50 bulbs and just go around the yard planting helter skelter. Thats fine if thats what you want, but when planted that way they tend to blend in with the landscape and really dont show up well at all. When you plant them in large groups they are a breathtaking showpiece.
In the early spring start thinking about where you would like to create a bed for flower bulbs. Prepare the bed by raising it with good rich topsoil, and if at all possible add some well composted cow manure. Do this in the spring while you are in the gardening mood; you may not be in the fall. Over the summer fill the bed with annual flowers to keep the weeds down, and to pretty up your yard for the summer. Come fall all you have to do is pull out the annuals and plant your bulbs to the depth recommended on the package.
If you think you could have a problem with squirrels digging up the bulbs and eating them, you can also wrap the bulbs in steel wool, leaving just the tip of the bulb exposed so it can grow out of the little wire cage youve created. Or you can just plant the bulbs and then cover the bed with chicken wire or plastic fencing until the bulbs start to grow in the spring.
When the bulbs come up in the spring and start blooming, you should clip off the blooms as they start to wither. This keeps the bulb from producing seeds, which requires a lot of energy, and you want the bulb to use all of its available energy to store food in preparation for the bulbs resting period. Once the bulbs are completely done blooming you dont want to cut off the tops until they are withered and die back. The million dollar question is how to treat the tops until that happens.
Many people bend them over and slip a rubber band over them, or in the case of bulbs like Daffodils tie them with one of the long leaves. This seems to work because it is a very common practice among many experienced gardeners. However, Mike is about to rain on the parade.
I strongly disagree with this theory because back about 6th grade we learned about photosynthesis in science class. To recap what we learned, and without going into the boring details, photosynthesis is the process of the plant using the suns rays to make food for itself. The rays from the sun are absorbed by the foliage and the food making process begins. In the case of a flower bulb this food is transported to the bulb beneath the ground and stored for later use.
So basically the leaves of the plant are like little solar panels. Their job is to absorb the rays from the sun to begin the process known as photosynthesis. If we fold them over and handcuff them with their hands behind their back, they are not going to be able to do their job. Its like throwing a tarpaulin over 80% of a solar panel.
In order for the leaves to absorb the rays from the sun, the surface of the foliage has to be exposed to the sun. On top of that, when you bend the foliage over, you are restricting the flow of nutrients to the bulb. The veins in the leaves and the stem are a lot like our blood vessels. If you restrict them the flow stops.
You decide. Ive presented my case. Bending them over seems to work, but Ive spent a lot of money on my bulbs. I want them running at full speed. What I do is clip the blooms off once they are spent, and just leave the tops alone until they are yellow and wilted. If they are still not wilted when its time to plant my annual flowers, I just plant the annuals in between the bulbs. As the bulbs die back the annuals tend to grow and conceal them. If one shows through I clip it off. It seems to work well for me.
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Aug
25
Posted under
Flower bulb care
Although spring is upon us there’s still time to get your snowdrop bulbs in the ground ready for next year. Snowdrop bulbs can be planted right up to the end of September so if you are thinking of starting a garden then this is one plant worth considering.
Not only does it flower early in the spring but to me the Snowdrop marks the end of the winter, when I see the snowdrops up I know that it won’t be too long before the weather starts to get better and the summer will be on it’s way.
There are different types of Snowdrop you can plant and these can be bought from the garden centre in nets for around 2.50. At boot sales or in garden shops after the summer you can often find nets of snowdrop bulbs on offer at a really low price.
You can get autumn flowering varieties but it’s usually the white early spring varieties which are the one’s seen most in gardens and at the road sides.
The snowdrop will grow in any good soil, they also grow well in grass and it’s nice to see snowdrops popping up in little clusters around the lawns of some houses as your passing. They brighten up the wintery days and seem to signal the coming spring.
You can also grow them in pots but you might find that they don’t last as long as when they are in the ground, I have no ideal why this seems to be the case but if you haven’t a garden you can get a little bloom of snowdrops in a large pot to brighten up your patio or window box.
There are a few varieties to choose from.
Galanthus Elwesii as it is known is slightly larger than the snowdrop we see in spring, it’s flowers are still white but the inner segments are a rich green colour.
The G.Ikarie which flowers in March also has white flowers but these are more glossy than the other varieties.
The one we all know is the G. Nivalis, other known as the Common Snowdrop or Old English snowdrop and this has little white flowers. This will double if left in the ground so that the year after flowering you will have double the amount of flowers than last year. This makes it a good variety to plant and to forget about, it’s low maintenance and you if you plant it in the right place and don’t want to move it the year after it will come up year after year doubling in amounts of blooms each year.
There are a few other varieties to look for and you will be able to find them at the garden centres, the names of the bulbs will be written on the little sacks for purchase, quite often you will get a picture of the bloom on the pack which gives you more of an idea of what you will be getting.
For me the Snowdrop is on of the best plants around, it has great significance marking the end of winter and ever since I was little I can remember looking out for the first Snowdrop in the garden, then the thrill of seeing one cheers me up as I know that soon the weather will be warmer and the days will be longer. Barbecues, Relaxing, Holidays and everything good which follows the winter blues.
Have fun x
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Jul
10
Posted under
Flower bulb care
When you think of any kind of gardening, the first thing that pops into your mind is flower gardening. Flowers and gardens being naturally synonymous with each other. And dedicated gardener that you are, youll naturally be doing your own flower gardening this year.
Flower gardening need not be limited only to summertime. If you plan carefully and plant ahead of time, your garden can be filled with an abundance of flowers for most of the year.
If we start by seasons, then for spring flowers, the best thing you could do would be to plant bulbs. Any nursery will have them, and if youre more inclined towards the exotic, and rarer flowering bulbs, theres a good chance you can have them ordered specially.
Favorites amongst bulb lovers are early springtime Crocuses, and cheerful Snowdrops. Tulips though, are by and away the most famous of bulbs in demand by flower gardeners, and are available in a variety of shades, including a black-colored one, which is really more of a deep maroon and one of those rare flowers I was talking about earlier.
Remember that all spring flowering bulbs should be planted in mid autumn, as this is the best time for them. Come any closer to winter and youre in danger of losing your bulbs altogether.
Moving through to summer, we find that perennials are a firm favorite for flower gardening as they yield blooms almost continuously throughout the season, and sometimes beyond. With a little luck and care, youll also find that most of your perennials will last through to next year, and the year after that, and, well you get the picture right? Youll also find that as the years and the seasons wear on, your perennials will become fuller, and generally will become more abundant than the first year you planted them.
As autumn gently closes in most flower gardens are left bereft of anything but a few small hardy plants. If you’re into more dedicated flower gardening however, that need not be the case for you. Hardy, drought resistant plants like Asters number among the many types of fall flowers available, and will look stunning in late summer/early fall, Generally, autumn plants will grow to a good 3-4 feet in height, and have vivid colors, as well as the more genteel pastel colors to choose from. Ornamental grasses are another favorite and will nicely complement your fall flowers.
To round off the year and your efforts at flower gardening, don’t despair as there are many winter blooms available. Amaryllis, Hyacinth, and Narcissus are a few of the more common known flowers and are available in bulb form. If you want something a little more out of the ordinary, you could always try Winter Jasmine, or Winter Honeysuckle.
So, take heart, take plenty of notes, plan, and buy to your heart’s content. By the end of it all you truly will have a flower for every season, and your flower gardening efforts will be rewarded most bountifully
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Feb
28
Posted under
Flower bulb care 
The owners of Le Domaine aux Quat’Saisons (A Jewel in the Languedoc – France Magazine) now let you into some of the secrets of their success in creating a oasis of colour throughout the year in a dry Mediterranean climate. .. In all regions of the world where rainfall is low or unreliable and summer temperatures high mediterranean gardening, most of the plants that are adapted to these conditions produce little or no flowers, or at best a quick burst of flowers in spring. Summer displays can be dull and dried-out and temperate garden plants that normally flower in spring will not survive the summers. The Languedoc is no exception to this; after the flush of spring flowers, gardens are brown and dry by the end of June, with colour returning only after the rains in early autumn. Bedding plants are all thirsty by nature and few of us can afford the water and time they need. At Le Domaine aux Quat’Saisons one of the best ways we have found to counteract these problems is to introduce bulbs and corms; many of these will flower spectacularly for years and years, increasing gradually and requiring little or no extra water. The greatest variety of species is available in spring but summer bulbs are certainly an essential addition to the garden to introduce much-needed colour.No spring dry garden can be considered complete without at least some alliums. There are hundreds of species. These are our favourites: A. cristophii ((8in purple-pink spherical flower heads on 2ft high stems), A. hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ (4-5in lilac-mauve spherical flower heads on 3ft high stems)’ A. ‘Globemaster’ (6-8in purple spherical flower heads on 2 1/2ft high stems), A. moly (small yellow flowers) and A. schubertii (1ft diameter lilac heads, with fantastic pedicels of different lengths).Bearded (or common) irises are exceptionally drought tolerant and their rhizomes enjoy a good baking in the summer; with so many varieties and colours to chose from no dry garden can be without some of these. They are virtually maintenance free, apart from dividing the clumps when they get too overcrowded.We also are big fans of species tulips; these have near-perfect jewel like flowers and will increase gradually by seed and through vegetative growth. These bulbs come from regions where there are hot dry summers. Tulipa (dasystemon) tarda sometimes even has five flowers on a single stem, white with a bright yellow base. They flower abundantly for a long time and are very easy to grow and are native to Turkestan in Central Asia. Tulipa linifolia is dwarf species native to Bokhara and the Pamir mountain range in Asia; brilliant scarlet flowers with a black base. T. greiggii from Turkestan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan is also suitable as are the hybrids produced from it (such as the Greiggii tulip ‘Red Riding Hood’)/The corner stone of colourful summer gardens in a dry, hot climate are Agapanthus. These offer the most striking blue or white flowers (we prefer the blue forms) contrasted with strap like green foliage. There is also Canna indica, the many hybrids of which offer stunning red, yellow or orange flowers all through the summer. Agapanthus can tolerate no additional water and will grow in full sun or part shade and also make an excellent candidate for large pots, but Cannas do appreciate an occasional watering. We have also had great success with Tulbaghia violacea, a member of the allium family; it will flower for months with no water in the summer. Its purple, chive-like flowers and green lush evergreen foliage make it an excellent edging plant.Another plant that succeeds admirably in this environment in the summer is Mirabilis jalapa (marvel of Peru). It has a tuberous tap-root and flowers continually with small red, pink or white highly perfumed flowers throughout out high summer and will tolerate almost no water. It readily self seeds and will come up all over the garden once established. Similarly Crocosmias will flower with little or no water. Crocosmias produce dense clumps of upright iris-like foliage. In midsummer this makes a good background for the small, profuse flowers. We especially like ‘Lucifer’ with paprika red flowers.Extending the summer into autumn can be an especially difficult period in the dry garden if there is little rain. Nerine bowdenii has shocking pink lily like flowers and performs well in dry conditions. A native to South Africa the bulbs, do not tolerate cold winter temperatures, especially if wet.Another pair of autumn successes are Cyclamen neapolitanum and Sternbergia lutea. C. neapolitanum likes partial shade and has pretty pink or white flowers and attractive marbled foliage. S. lutea has vivid yellow crocus like flowers and spread rapidly to form good sized clumps.In winter we find that Cyclamen coum and Iris foetidissima perform well. The pods of I. foetidissima peel open to reveal a profusion of vibrant orange seeds and look beautiful next to the apple green flowers of Helleborus argutifolius. Iris unguicularis is another exceptionally drought tolerant iris; it produces wonderful blue/yellow flowers from December to February, another essential for the winter dry garden. Its strap like leaves can look a little messy but its lovely flowers more than compensate.Nariccus tazzetta hybrids (for example ‘Ehrlicher’) originate from the Mediterranean region and flower in January/February. They need little or no water and the flowers are highly scented. To find out more about our garden and its collection of flowering bulbs, please contact us as below.Hotel Le Domaine aux Quat’Saisonsbed and breakfast carcassonnesouth of france hotel00 33 (0) 4 68 244 973
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Jan
27
Posted under
Planting flower bulbs 
Spring is the most fun time to indulge your children by spoiling them with an over abundance of your time. My three boys range in age from 10 to 15. Every year when spring break at school finally rolls around most parents are trying desperately to find the perfect vacation destination and it may be as close as their front yard. My boys and I have a tradition of time spent with each other. The first day of spring break we go shopping for plants, flowers, bulbs and yard decorations. We decide together what will look great in the flower gardens this season.This year we decided to make a bird house and add to our already existing flower beds. I know it sounds like something out of a parenting hand book but it truly does work. My oldest son actually took it upon himself this year to draw the design for the flower bed addition. And he drew it four months ago. Even the neighborhood kids came over to get involved. My husband made a great three story bird house for us and we painted it together as a family. We took advantage of my thirteen year olds newly acquired knowledge of power tools to cut and put together landscaping timbers for the flower garden addition and we all got our hands dirty planting all of our new plants. The beautiful hand made bird house was the final touch. So by the end of the week we had added to the appearance of our home but the reward was truly the time we spent together. Its the Brady bunch for 2007! All joking aside- parents are so wrapped up in work and life to really enjoy the company of their children that they feel they must buy back time with expensive vacations and gifts. But at the end of the day if you ask your children what they really want and you allow them true speak honestly, their answers may surprise you.
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