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| For You |
Please forgive this week's 'vase' - himself's hands have been pressed into action to cup the tulips, which would not oblige and sit nicely in a vase. The fact that the stems were of varying lengths probably had something to do with it. Some of my planting was rather late, resulting in some short and stumpy stems, so that the heads were only just above the rim of the vase I had in mind. I must plant earlier this year and yes get a new vase or two. The planned vase was also missing one component, namely tulip 'Apricot Beauty' which went over in the heat of the weekend.
So in my pop up 'vase' are tulips 'Graceland' - white with a faint edge of pink, the fabulous frothy and frilly white' Mount Tacoma', 'Malaika' also known as 'Bruine Wimpel' and the double 'La Belle Epoque'. I've not grown either 'La Belle Epoque' or 'Graceland' before and the jury is still out. The former has not lived up to my expectations after reading the catalogue bumph. The colouring has varied quite considerably and not all the flowers have turned out to be double. Maybe though I should try it again as I remember being disappointed with 'Malaika' when I first grew them but this year I've been most smitten. Has anybody else grown 'La Belle Epoque'? If so I would be interested to hear your verdict.
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| Tulips 'Malaika', 'Graceland' & 'Mount Tacoma' |
Long term readers of this blog may recall that I really dislike tulip foliage. I get round this by growing them in florist's buckets. I'm lucky enough to have the room to shove them out of sight once the flowers are done and dusted. The buckets are purchased from the local Morrisons's supermarket which sells them in bundles. Each bundle contains at least 8 buckets but quite often more, all for the grand total of 99 pence. The plastic can be a bit brittle when it comes to drilling holes in the bottom but with careful handling they're ok. The buckets also come in most handy at the allotment.
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| Tulips 'Malaika', 'Graceland','Mount Tacoma' & 'La Belle Epoque' |
On the subject of tulips if you've not already come across garden designer and Chelsea gold medalist
Dan Pearson's new online magazine
'Dig Delve' do have a peek. The magazine is about "gardens, landscape, growing and making". You can find a recent most informative article about Dan's experience of growing tulips
here. He has the space to try out a number of varieties. After reading it I surprised myself by adding some yellow tulips to my wish list for this year's bulb order.
Over a
t 'Rambling In The Garden', I see that our hostess Cathy has been foraging this week to produce a vase full of wild flowers, set against a backdrop of the seashore. Looking forward to catching up with other Monday vases later on in the day.
What an usual choice of container, Anna, I like it. So in love with these tulips, such glorious colours. Must put them on my list for next autumn. Happy Monday to you from a windy South-West France where my own tulips are being put to the test...the Rembrandts are surprisingly sturdy!
ReplyDeleteThank you Annette :) I hope that those winds were soft and that your tulips are still holding their heads up this morning. I will have to find out more about those sturdy Rembradnts :)
DeleteAnna it is a delight to see tulips in a vase and I love how yours have a mind of their own each one looking like it is vying for attention...and why not they work perfectly together.
ReplyDeleteThey do seem to go together well Donna. I like your idea of them having a mind of their own - maybe that's why I couldn't get them to behave themselves in a vase :)
DeleteI've just ordered 'La Belle Epoque' for planting next autumn after seeing it on someone's blog; I think it must have been Julie at Peonies and Posies but I'm not 100% sure. I did find this year that some doubles din't do all that well in pots but were stunning planted in the garden. I must write up a tulip report and mention all this soon. Love your tulips and the 'vase'.
ReplyDeleteYour memory serves you well Christina as I read the same post over at 'Peonies and Posies' and was really looking forward to seeing mine open. I think that I will try them again as 'Malaika' didn't do much first time around and I've loved them this year. I look forward to reading your tulip report.
DeleteI love that you used a "pop up" vase, Anna. Your husband is also much more cooperative than I imagine mine would be if I made a similar request! The tulips are lovely, even if they didn't meet all your expectations.
ReplyDeleteYou couldn't see the faces he was pulling Kris :)
DeleteFabulous tulips in a repurposed container!?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your visit and comment. Not only repurposed but preloved too :)
DeleteThe colours of those tulips are incredible, you must be pretty pleased with them. I love the rusty, antiquey silky pinks and yellows. I have never grown these varieties myself but I think they may end up on my bulb list for next year... and your choice of 'vase' is inspired!
ReplyDeleteWelcome and thank you for your lovely comment. They are soft subtle shades and the plan is to add more similar colours for next spring. I will be over to visit you soon :)
DeleteIt does seem to be the time of the tulip at the moment doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt does indeed Sue but I think that after the last few very hot days they have now peaked in my garden and some are definitely on the way out.
DeleteThe colours of those tulips are so elegant Anna!
ReplyDeleteThanks guys :)
DeleteWhat gorgeous colours. I agree about tulip foliage, what a dismal sight they are after blooming. Thanks for the tip about the floral buckets from Morrisons, I had no idea that they sold them.
ReplyDeleteDismal certainly hits the spot Chloris. Hope that you are lucky should you seek the florist's buckets.
DeleteI will pop into our Morrisons and check them out too!! I made the mistake of planting some of my newest tulips in the cutting beds - perhaps I will dig them out when they have finshed flowering and pot them into Morrisons buckets instead. It's good to be able to see these tulip on other blogs to give us a good idea of what to order next year - or not as the case might be! Himself has got a pretty handful there, so thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI think that I might be responsible for a stampede in the direction of Morrisons Cathy :) Yes it's most useful to see what tulips other folks are growing/liking and disliking.
DeleteYour tulips are wonderfully displayed by your assistant!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your link to Dans newsletter.
He comes in rather handy at times Brian :) I hope that you enjoy Dan's new online magazine. The latest article is on crab apples.
DeleteI've grown 'La Belle Epoque' for the 2. year now, but this year none of the flowers have been double - anyway it's still pretty I think
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting to hear Sussi. Maybe the weather has not suited them. I'm glad to hear that you think that they are pretty as I will be trying them again.
DeleteThose bronzey coloured tulips are simply divine. A gorgeous selection.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your kind words Elaine :)
DeleteMalaika is really pretty, but I am most taken by the white ones Anna, especially Graceland with the pink blush around the edges. I grew 'White Triumphator' this year, which has tall stems and big white cups - quite lovely. Thanks for the tip about Dan Pearson's new web magazine.
ReplyDeleteThe pink edging on 'Graceland' has expanded as the flowers have aged Cathy so much so that the flower became more pink than white! I like the sound of of 'White Triumphator' and will keep an eye open for it when the new bulb catalogues are out.
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