Well after last week's exciting experimentation with a flower frog it's back to pick and plonk today for 'In A Vase On Monday'. These 'Ballerina' tulips lent themselves to the occasion. I noticed this morning that seven of the stems had been snapped spookily in more or less at the same point of their respective stems, quite close to the flower heads. Luckily the pot is crammed with bulbs so their companions still make for a colourful display in their blue pot. Whether it has happened because of recent strong winds or whether it's down to pesky pigeon or squirrel activity I just don't know. The pot is visible from the kitchen window so I will be keeping my eyes peeled when I'm at the kitchen sink and maybe might be able to identify the culprit. I like 'Ballerina' - both the colour and the fact that I don't need to plant bulbs every autumn.
As always it's a big thanks to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for her impeccable hosting. Some of the various participants met up virtually yesterday which was most enjoyable and further get togethers are in the pipeline. It's back to to the green waste bin for me in a few moments, It's due to be emptied tomorrow morning and I think that I can just squeeze another trugful in but I hope to catch up with everyone's vases later this evening. Wishing everyone a sunny flower filled week 💐
Ballerina also has a lovely scent too.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Sadly since suffering from severe nose bleeds I had to have my nose cauterised which has affected my sense of smell 😢 I can smell the scent slightly though Elle especially on sunny days. Thanks for visiting.
DeleteIt looks just like one big flower. I did wonder about cutting them. I hate cutting flowers from the garden but you answered my query.
ReplyDeleteI used to hate cutting flowers from the garden too Sue but don't mind now when cutting them will not leave a big gap. In this case it was kinder to rescue them 😀
DeleteOh I have had pesky squirrels that like to snap the heads off of tulips....but oh they are amazing in your vase!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind as much if they ate the flowers as a snack afterwards Donna but to vandalise like that is most naughty of them!
DeleteOh what an unpleasant discovery involving the wrong sort of squeal, I expect 🙄 I certainly wouldn't have recognised these as tulips, with their short stems, but they nevertheless still look effective. MIght a cat have been involved?
ReplyDeleteYes definitely the wrong sort of squeal Cathy - more of a resigned groan.There are a couple of cats that pass through regularly but I don't think it was them. Another possible culprit has just come to mind - we have a couple of regular duck visitors - mmmmmm - a case for Sherlock methinks 🔎 😂
DeleteWhat a shame they were broken Anna, but lovely in a vase. Ballerina are one of my favourites too. The same happens to a few of my tulips every year, both here and in my old garden. I originally suspected a mouse, but now think it may be the blackbirds. I read somewhere they are attracted to the colour orange (because their beaks are that colour?) and typically peck at crocus stamens. So that may be your culprit…
ReplyDeleteOh that's an interesting thought Cathy. The post of 'Ballerina' tulips is very close to a bird feeder and when it's topped up in the morning the first vistors of the day are usually a pair of blackbirds!
DeleteMy bet is on the squirrels, Anna. My resident squirrels do just that to my Gazanias and other flowers. I'm glad you were able to use the tulips in a tiny vase. Best wishes with the pre-pickup cleanup!
ReplyDeleteSquirrels remain high on my suspect list Kris. I know from previous experience that they are partial to burying conkers in that pot. I'm wondering if they are getting their revenge on me for removing their stash 😂
Delete'Ballerina' looks lovely. It's too bad the flowers were broken off. Squirrels have become pests here in the past couple years, digging.
ReplyDeleteIt is a most attractive tulip Suzie. Yes squirrels do like digging which is a nuisance. I get the impression that they are a recent nuisance for you - here it has been long term 😢
DeleteI like the Ballerinas, new to me, they look like some of the tropicals in my garden...Squirrels do similar things here, so annoying, they eat the pits out of the mangoes and avocadoes on the trees. Grr. Amelia
ReplyDeleteI know that you can eat tulip petals Amelia but they don't appeal. I would be rather miffed though if they were ruining perfectly good fruit. How annoying for you.
DeleteOh my, that's a gorgeous splash of color. I like your blogging background colors, too.
ReplyDeleteWelcome and thanks for your kind words Alys 😀
DeleteDoesn't your arrangement look fabulous, until I read that they were tulips you had me guessing. They look great about that lovely green shiny foliage. I was also interested to hear that the ballerina return year after year. Are there any others like that which you would recommend?
ReplyDeleteI think that it might have been easier to identify them from the photo Noelle if it had been sunny enough for the flowers to open as it was today. I'm not sure yet from personal experience how many years 'Ballerina' will continue to flower for but it's one of the varieties that is recommended as a perennial. There is a list on the Peter Nyssen website and somewhere I have a list suggested by Fergus Garrett. I will let you have a copy if it comes to light again.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame that happened to your Ballerina tulips, but on the other hand, you've managed to make the most of the situation by making a dazzling display with them. My Ballerina tulips have just opened, maybe I should go and check them out! Who or whatever the culprit was, I hope they don't do any further damage to your plants.
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