Monday, November 01, 2010

The Mad Bulb Planter

It is not too often we get all of this planter's delight weather to clean up our garden and move the plants that didn't do well in certain locations.  Can you believe I have moved some of these plants three times.  They had better work out next year or they are gone.  I know it is not the plant's fault, it is mine, but I have run out of places to move them.


Betty Corning in the shade of neighbor's lilac


The Duchess Of Albany has lush foliage but not many blooms.


Individual flowers looked good but there were not many of them.

I received another bulb delivery last week, this is the fourth and I am having trouble keeping up with the planting.  I am trying, but I still have some bulbs left to put into the soil, along with cutting down my garden and putting it to bed. 

I want to move Duchess Of Albany Clematis, it is huge and in too much shade.  This will be the third move for the Duchess and the last.  I have already moved Betty Corning to a much sunnier location and cut down Sweet Autumn Clematis (I know it is a type 3, cut in early spring, but it is overpowering on the pergola).  My bet is it will survive because it is so tenacious and goes wherever it feels like.

Clematis Duchess Of Albany (how it should look and with the darker variations)

Clematis Betty Corning (lots of blooms and a lovely blue under the correct growing conditions)

I put in a mixture of Orienpet Lilies in between the Happy Returns Daylilies which are in the raised bed and added several more in front of my Panicum Northwind in the back garden.

Mixed Orienpet Lilies

Allium Schubertii was so fascinating at my garden club presentation, I was actually hesitant to plant it because the sphere was so large, but it is only 16" tall.  Needless to say, I ordered some for planting out in my front garden.

Allium Schubertii

Allium Globemaster added to the back border

I planted a new species tulip in the back border after reading many glowing reports about its beauty.

Species Tulip Tangerine Beauty

There is still time to plant some bulbs, as long as the soil can be worked,  How exciting it is to see something new coming up in the spring!


15 comments:

Larry said...

I hadn't seen Tangerine before... really nice! I lost my Duchess of Albany after maybe 20 years... not certain why. I too planted Allium Schubertii for the first time and also divided my two large clumps of globemaster... yielded close to 30 bulbs! The blossoms had been quite small the past few years.
We are once again being ravaged by critters who dig 6" deep holes around the base of young dwarf conifers and many of the smaller magnolias and the intersectional peonies... I don't know that they are finding grubs as we've seen none when planting things... it's pretty frustrating. I disposed of the annual plantings this weekend because temps in the mid-20's have been pretty common of late... Larry

Lona said...

Hi Eileen. I am so glad to hear that I am not the only one who moves plants a few times. LOL! I planted 3 Orienpet Lilies last week and I am anxious to see how tall they will get. That Allium Schubertii looks like a fun one. I well love seeing your in the spring or summer.

Shirley said...

Thanks for the great post about bulbs. I am really liking the allium, it is quite stunning!

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Can you believe that I have been so busy that I haven't even started to plant bulbs? I am going to pay for it with frozen fingers! I often move plants as well. Perhaps in a more sunny location the Duchess will produce more blooms.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Larry, I will be anxious to see this tulip. It said the leaves are as interesting as the flower.

The Duchess gets quite large maybe too much for my garden.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Lona, with my small front garden, I am really taking a chance planting that Allium Schubertii. I love the look of the Orienpet Lilies, however, most of them do get quite tall.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi SHirley, yes that allium gets quite large, so we'll see if it overwhelms my garden.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Jennifer, I did get all of the bulbs in, and I am starting to think, do I need some more?

Eileen

Anonymous said...

Dear Eileen, Oh I do so hope that this will not be the last of the Duchess, although she is really sparse in flower. I should certainly give her a sunny position and is she fed enough? She is very greedy!!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Edith, I did feed her in the spring with a general organic granular. It may not have been enough. It is a beautiful flower but needs to be up close and personal to appreciate the Duchess.

I am going to move her closer to the patio behind one of my Rainbow Knockouts. It is the only sunny area I have left.

Eileen

joey said...

Good stuff in the works, Eileen! I still have to plant my bulbs, I still have to plant my bulbs ... (Hope your fun Halloween party did your planning justice :)

Rose said...

Oh dear, I'm down to just a few crocuses to plant and I swore that was it, but now I wish I'd ordered a few more. You've enticed me with the photos of the Orienpets and the sparkling allium, two I'd love to add to my garden. Your clematis are lovely! I hope the Duchess likes her new home.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Joey, I bought some more bulbs today on sale. I promise, thst's it!

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Rose, I know with our nice weather, it just makes you want to plant more. We are supposed to get much colder the next few days. That will stop me.

Eileen

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

I'm a Clematis-aholic and now want to add some more to my garden. I love Betty Corning! I'm drawn to those types of flowers on Clematis.
Your garden is going to be so pretty when those bulbs are blooming!