Blossom by blossom the Spring begins.
Algernon Charles Swinburne
I don’t know about where you are, but around here Spring is having an identity crisis. We are having such extreme ups and downs and so much rain. But with it all, Spring is still very welcome. I give Spring a lot of grace just because it is NOT WINTER.
The above quote is just perfect I think. Every day as I walk in the garden I see something new. All signs of life. Just a perfect setting to lead us up to Easter and a time when we celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made to bring us eternal life.
DAFFODILS
Daffodils are my favorite spring bulb. They sure make a difference in the spring garden. Even though I love them, I go slowly when it comes to planting them as I don’t want their messy leaves still around when the roses are getting started! I certainly get creative about where to put them. But oh how wonderful it is to see them when they come.
For containers, I buy the mini starter pots at Lowes and Walmart. Usually, Tete de Tetes are the mini daffodils used. But this year the ones I bought from Walmart were different than the ones I bought from Lowes – and I liked them much better! With a little investigation, I found out that this “new” mini daffodil was a sport of Tete de Tete — Tete Boucle. Boucle is the French word for loop. Ms Boucle was not only gorgeous but she also did very well in a vase.
On Social Media Paul Zimmerman introduced me to another daffodil that I am on the hunt for — Yosemite Valley. Have you seen this one? Oh my word! GORGEOUS! I have found the perfect spot for more daffodils and I hope these will be the ones! So far, I have not found a supplier. If you see them for sale, let me know!
YEAR OF THE GLADIOLUS
The National Garden Bureau has named 2022 as the year of the Gladiolus. I am thrilled. I love this old-fashioned beauty. I know they fell out of favor except for “funeral” flowers for a time but I am “glad” to report they are coming back!
Some fun facts from the Garden Bureau:
- The gladiolus bulb is actually a corm.
- They are part of the iris family.
- The original varieties existed naturally in South Africa.
- Gladiolus owe their botanical name to the Latin word gladius, which means sword.
Some growing tips…
- Gladiolus should be grown in well-drained soil and full sun.
- You can grow them in a cutting garden, add them to your perennial garden, grow them in raised beds or containers, or plant the corms in your vegetable garden.
- Before planting, prepare the soil by loosening the planting area to a depth of 6 to 10”. Adding compost and an all-purpose granular fertilizer will help your glads reach their full potential.
- You can expect the flowers to begin opening 80-90 days after planting. To extend the bloom time, don’t plant all the corms at once. Plant the first batch in spring after all danger of frost has passed. Plant additional corms every week or two until early summer (about 90 days before the first fall frost).
- Plant grandiflora types 6 to 8” deep. Planting deeper helps keep the stems upright. Dwarf glads should be planted 4 to 6” deep. Space the corms 4 to 6” apart on center. Use the closer spacing if you plan to cut most of the stems before they are fully open.
- Water regularly and deeply, especially during dry spells. When plants are stressed by heat and drought, they become more susceptible to pests and disease. Applying 2 to 3” of mulch after planting will help retain moisture and control weeds.
To read more from the Garden Bureau on growing these garden beauties … head over to the Garden Bureau site HERE.
There are so many varieties at the garden centers and box stores right now. So far I have purchased 3 different varieties that I plan to work in groupings together…
Rose Chat Spring Fling:
Last week we released the first in the 4-part spring fling series…
ROSE PEST & DISEASE CONTROL … without the “hard” stuff
Jason Croutch of Fraser Valley Rose Farm
On this episode, Jason Croutch, owner of Fraser Valley Rose Farm, shares his rose growing philosophy and gives us tips on managing rose pests and diseases without using “the hard stuff.” Listen in for so many great rose care ideas plus stories behind his very popular YouTube Channel. You might just need a pen and paper for this one!
LISTEN HERE.
Next in the series…
Potting Shed Putterings
Tomatoes have germinated in record time. Mr. G is very happy. Since I started them later than I usually do, he was getting a bit anxious about it! So far everyone is doing well. Fungus gnats seem to be fewer and more under control – hopefully! Although I am certainly creating their ideal habitat!
Holy Week
This Sunday starts Holy week for Christians. From Jesus’ triumphant entry, to his death on the cross and resurrection. The images from Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion are forever etched into my mind. We will rewatch on Good Friday. Such love is hard to comprehend. But he calls us to the same…
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.” –John 13:34
If you’d like to read more about the events of this special week … read on here.
Friends, I wish you a beautiful, love-filled week.
Wonderful garden.
Beautiful clicks.
So glad that we are like-minded people as I purchased some beautiful gladiolus corms this week (all white, lime green, and purple), and I also purchased two new lily varieties named Honeymoon (a soft yellow color). Your stunning daffodil in your blog is named Ice Follies. Mine are one of the first to bloom along with Tete de Tete. And I feel pretty certain that Brent and Becky Heath of Gloucester, VA, have the Yosemite Valley daffodil bulbs, maybe even for sale now. I really love the Replete daffodil and the Tahiti daffodil. I have a white Parrot tulip with fringed edges in bloom now. The petals are so large and remind me of their feathers. Our weather has been and usually is so nice and sunny, and we have had a lot of rain also. My roses look as though they are three times their size, and I can see small buds on some of them. What a glorious Spring we have had for almost the past three months! Did you know that the tilapia fish is known as the Jesus fish? Jesus looked to fishermen who fished in the Sea of Galilee when he was looking for apostles. And He fed 5,000 people with two loaves of bread and two fishes by performing a miracle. There were even some loaves of bread left over. Thank you for your lovely blog today. I always enjoy seeing your photos and learning from you.
Beautiful and inspiring post. May you have a joyous Easter.