A Spring Bulb Ensemble
Judging by my heating bills the winter of 2021 was really dreadful Yet, my hardy spring blooming bulbs made it through just fine. I grew these in two very large planters near the front door.
Each pot had a mix of three types of hardy bulbs. These were Design Impression Darwin hybrid tulips, grape hyacinths, and Peeping Tom daffodils. I enjoyed a month’s color from all of these beauties.
They were planted last fall after the first killing frost hit the flowering annuals that were in the pots. The pots were generally watered two to possibly three times per week, depending on the weather.
The foliage of the grape hyacinths began emerging in very late fall into early winter, and didn’t seem to mind the winter weather at all. This provided a touch of green throughout the season.
The Pepping Tom daffodils were the next to sprout. They started coming up some time in late February-early March and survived periods of snow and sleet.
The Design Impression Darwin hybrid tulips were the last of the trio to make an appearance, in mid-spring. Their development initially was quite slow.
As the tulip flower buds began to appear, we had alternating very cold spells interspersed with some warming. But, like the other bulbs, they did just fine.
What I really liked about the tulips is that the foliage had beautiful yellow variegation. There is also a lovely yellow flame on the outside of the flower petals. Overall, the developing flowers were dark blackish-green on the outside with hints of pink.
I found the color combination of the purplish-blue grape hyacinths coordinated very well with the tulips and created a vision of beauty. To top it all off, the yellow of the Peeping Tom daffodils offered an additional blast of spring-time color.
The daffodil blossoms are now starting to fade, while the other two kinds of bulbs in the pots are hanging on and lasting very well. The wind hasn’t been kind to these very large tulips, but they aren’t ready to give up yet. One reason could be their very sturdy stems.
The Design Impression tulips make a great cut flower, and they do come back year after year, which isn’t true for all kinds of tulips. This variety is also great for forcing indoors. This is by far the largest of all the pink tulips.
I definitely would consider planting this bulb ensemble again for they offered many weeks of interest. These were very undemanding bulbs and required very little routine care.
Each pot had a mix of three types of hardy bulbs. These were Design Impression Darwin hybrid tulips, grape hyacinths, and Peeping Tom daffodils. I enjoyed a month’s color from all of these beauties.
They were planted last fall after the first killing frost hit the flowering annuals that were in the pots. The pots were generally watered two to possibly three times per week, depending on the weather.
The foliage of the grape hyacinths began emerging in very late fall into early winter, and didn’t seem to mind the winter weather at all. This provided a touch of green throughout the season.
The Pepping Tom daffodils were the next to sprout. They started coming up some time in late February-early March and survived periods of snow and sleet.
The Design Impression Darwin hybrid tulips were the last of the trio to make an appearance, in mid-spring. Their development initially was quite slow.
As the tulip flower buds began to appear, we had alternating very cold spells interspersed with some warming. But, like the other bulbs, they did just fine.
What I really liked about the tulips is that the foliage had beautiful yellow variegation. There is also a lovely yellow flame on the outside of the flower petals. Overall, the developing flowers were dark blackish-green on the outside with hints of pink.
I found the color combination of the purplish-blue grape hyacinths coordinated very well with the tulips and created a vision of beauty. To top it all off, the yellow of the Peeping Tom daffodils offered an additional blast of spring-time color.
The daffodil blossoms are now starting to fade, while the other two kinds of bulbs in the pots are hanging on and lasting very well. The wind hasn’t been kind to these very large tulips, but they aren’t ready to give up yet. One reason could be their very sturdy stems.
The Design Impression tulips make a great cut flower, and they do come back year after year, which isn’t true for all kinds of tulips. This variety is also great for forcing indoors. This is by far the largest of all the pink tulips.
I definitely would consider planting this bulb ensemble again for they offered many weeks of interest. These were very undemanding bulbs and required very little routine care.
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