tuberoses


Today the weather was lovely and warm here in the lower Sierra foothills, so I decided to move one clump of tuberoses from where they were not getting enough late summer sun to bloom over by some others which have repeated bloom for me (this despite warnings that it probably would not.)  Anyway, I noticed that those that had bloomed had also pushed themselves to the surface the way bearded irises do.  Does anyone who grows these know if this is normal, or is it because of my heavy soil underneath, and the lightweight mulch on the top?  Do I dig them and replant them deeper to keep them from drying out in our relentless summer heat, or let things be?    
 
I would also be interested in folks' favorite bulbs.  I've given up on any more large plants in our dreadful soil, but I can always dig a hole big enough for a bulb.
I would love to hear favorite bloomers from each season and particularly by site suitability: dry sun, moist sun, dry shade, moist shade.  In particular, I have a bed that is in shade from late fall to early spring, faces north and stays moist most of the time due to heavy soil, few daylight hours and mulch.  It contains four beautiful old camellias ranging in height from 7-12ft.  Because the bed was originally covered with black plastic and two inches of rock, and of course the nature of these shrubs, their extensive roots are very near the surface.  There are a few other things in the bed, but would be interested to hear suggestions for bulbs that could take all that shade as well as morning to 2pm summer sun; the all shady parts are all planted.
 
I also have some dry shade under two old flowering pears that has a similar root problem, but would love to tuck three seasons of color under the canopy.  Any suggestions, bulb lovers?  I currently have  only daffs and bearded iris(on the sunny edge).            Cheers, Karrie Reid


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