Perennializing Tulips

Despite the fact that my garden does not bear even the slightest resemblance to the deserts of Turkey, I have actually had some fairly good luck with perennializing certain kinds of tulips.

Tulip 'Abba' in the peony bed, with tree peonies, candytuft, spurge, and lamb's ears

The best seem to be the doubles, for some reason. This is the third year for this early double tulip 'Abba', and it seems to get stronger and more numerous every year.

Tulip 'Abba', with mugo pine, candytuft, and lily foliage

 I just love the tomato red color, the shaggy-lion shape, and the splash of yellow and black in the interior.

Double early tulip 'Abba'

This double early yellow tulip 'Monte Carlo' has also returned undiminished in its second year. This one is a solid clear yellow, with no interior markings.

Double early tulip 'Monte Carlo'

It is in a sunny spot in my backyard patio bed, but it's not a spot I keep particularly dry as there are moisture-loving roses, filipendula, and siberian iris nearby. Some may find the intense ball of yellow overwhelming, but I like strong color in spring.

Tulip 'Monte Carlo', with siberian iris and filipendula

Another good returner is this fosteriana tulip aptly named 'Juan'. It has large, flamboyant red-orange blooms with yellow interiors, and fantastic purple-mottled foliage. The flowers fan out into a lovely star shape when open to the sun, and roll tightly closed on overcast days.

Fosteriana tulip 'Juan'

These are actually in a part shade location at the bottom of a slope - quite possibly the worst location for a tulip - but have returned nicely. For some reason the squirrels seem to enjoy lopping off their heads periodically.

Fosteriana tulip 'Juan' with Hypericum (St. John's Wort)

I have some "plain old tulip" tulips along the front of the house, in a narrow west-facing crevice between the front walk and the building, which are in perhaps the hottest, sunniest, driest spot in my yard. They predate both me and the previous owner of the house, and have been blooming every May like clockwork for at least ten years. These are the only ones I have in truly tulip-friendly conditions.

Unindentified red tulips

I haven't been as lucky with every tulip I've planted. The single early tulip 'Purple Prince', planted in the same spot as 'Monte Carlo', put on a disappointing show in its second year, with only a few scattered bulbs returning. It is a lovely tulip though - the mauvey-purple shade is just perfect with the spring green of fresh foliage. In my book, worth replanting periodically to keep it going.

Patio bed with tulips 'Monte Carlo' and 'Purple Prince'. Last year there were twice as many purples as yellows - most of the purples failed to return.

 Tulip 'Sweetheart' returned somewhat from last year, but noticeably diminished. I planted more of these last year, thank goodness, or there would be only 1-2 total. Again, its delicate loveliness earns it a spot in my garden, even as a semi-annual.

Tulip 'Sweetheart' with narcissus 'Katie Heath', tree peony and geraniums

New this year is tulip 'Princess Irene', a well-known classic. I certainly hope she returns, because she is a stunner for sure! I will do my best to keep her hot and dry. She is next to a barberry, so hopefully that should not be too hard.

Tulip 'Princess Irene' with purple barberry

Have any particular kind of tulips perennialized well in your garden?

Early Spring Flowers

It's early days yet in this chilly, slow spring, and spring bulbs continue to dominate the landscape.

Patio bed in early May: Narcissus and a few early tulips coming along

But a few very early blooming perennials are starting to wake up. Here is Erythronium 'Pagoda', the dog's tooth violet. This is its first year in my garden, and I am hoping it will be happy and increase over time. It's an elegant, delicate flower.

Erythronium (Dog's Tooth Violet) 'Pagoda'

Anemonella thalictroides (bloodroot) is also in full bloom now. A gardener could easily miss this tiny wildflower if she steps past it too quickly, but close inspection is rewarding. The plant blooms very early and then goes dormant in early summer.

Anemonella thalictroides (Bloodroot)

Closeup of Anemonella thalictroides (Bloodroot)

Several hellebores, stalwarts of the early garden, are looking fine. My favorite so far is 'Ivory Prince'. It has gorgeously silver veined blue-green foliage, which complements the red stems and pink and cream flowers just perfectly.

Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Ivory Prince'

Helleborus x nigercors 'Valentine Green' is just beginning to bloom. The flowers are so far more of a pale cream than green.

Helleborus x nigercors 'Valentine Green'

This unknown double orientalis type of hellebore (might possibly be 'Sparkling Diamond', but not sure) was the earliest to begin blooming. It should continue for another few weeks at least.

Hellebore, possibly 'Sparkling Diamond'

Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque Flower) is another very early bloomer to light up the spring. This is a pale purple one.

Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque Flower)

 Finally, the earliest of my shrubs to bloom is the haskap. I've seen plenty of big, fat bees buzzing around it - hopefully they are pollinizing it well!

Haskap (Honeyberry)

 It's been a very slow spring - ordinarily most of these flowers would be in April rather than May. Hopefully everything else won't start blooming at once!

End of April Views

Spring is here - the fresh green foliage of perennials begins to cover the ground, and bulbs are flowering in the spaces between the leaves.

Daffodils blooming near the bare stems of Japanese Maple 'Coonara Pygmy'

In my shade garden right now, there are lots of bright yellow daffodils. I thought it was a bit TOO much yellow, so added this cheery pink fuchsia in a pot for a bit of contrast. Pink and yellow is not usually a color combo on my favorites list, but with the right shade of strong pink I think it can work.

Narcissus 'Ice Follies', 'King Alfred', 'Peeping Tom', and 'February Gold' with boxwood and fuchsia

Here is a corner of my rose garden. The cotinus in this spot has not begun to leaf out yet, but the ground beneath is alive with daffodils, hyacinths, and this purple pasque flower.

Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque flower) with Narcissus 'King Alfred' and Hyacinth 'Aiolos'

Another view looking out from the rose garden to the sidewalk. The roses are just beginning to show signs of growth. At their feet the Dutch crocus are still blooming, joined by scilla from across the way.

Crocus vernus 'Yellow Mammoth' and Scilla siberica 'Spring Beauty' blooming in the rose garden.

I am still in the process of planting up the narrow terrace area (sidewalk strip) seen in the picture above, which is under an ash tree. So far I've added heuchera, alchemilla, geranium, and bergenia, plus scilla, chionodoxa, and daffodils. Some epimediums and hellebores will be added this spring. There are also plenty of weeds as you can see from the photo! I am quite pleased with the bright blue scilla next to the red-purple heuchera though - an unusual and striking color combo.

Scilla siberica 'Spring Beauty' with Heuchera 'Prince'

Here is my front entry border. Geraniums, sedums, catmint, calamint, tulips, and alliums are greening up. (Actually the allium foliage is already starting to turn brown!) I have the same purple heuchera in this area as well. The yellow centers of daffodil 'Ice Follies' reflect the bright foliage of the golden chamaecyparis.

Narcissus 'Ice Follies' with Heuchera 'Prince' and Chamaecyparis pisifera aurea nana

The "orchard" area under my fruit trees is also bright with early daffodils now. The new foliage of their companion tanacetum vulgare 'Isla Gold' really glows when it emerges. You can see the patch of garlic growing tall in the background. It's amazing how early garlic begins to grow!

Narcissus 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation' and 'Ice Follies' with Tanacetum vulgare 'Isla Gold'

Now we are in for a stretch of chilly, rainy weather. The garden may take a breather before surging ahead into its next phase of growth.