Re: bulbs

At 08:09 AM 1/7/2002, Anne Conlon wrote:
>Happy New Year to all!
>     I have finally dug a new bed and want to fill it (immediately of 
> course) and was wondering if it's too late for all the bulbs such as 
> iris, daffodil and tulip which I usually plant here in November?  Or 
> should I plant some other bulbs which will bloom later?
>     Thanks for the help.  Anne Conlon

Anne -

If I recall correctly, so live somewhere in the North Bay, perhaps up in 
the Santa Rosa area?

In the greater Bay Area there are often various opportunities for bulb 
planting.  Tulips are often forced in pots and can be planted out in the 
garden as well.  Be sure that they've been 'hardened off' before doing so 
as they may otherwise be damaged by suddenly being exposed to greater 
sunlight and cold harsh weather after being in a greenhouse or 
indoors.  Daffodils and other bulbs are also available in pots.  It is good 
to get them while they are still expanding their flowers.  If there is a 
wholesale flower mart in your area that caters to the public, you might 
find good possibilities there.

Some speciality nurseries offer unusual South African bulbs in pots year 
'round and various other bulbs that are adaptable to mediterranean 
climates.  I am currently interested in trying some species tulips instead 
of the hybrids as many of them adapt quite well to our local mild-winter 
climate and rebloom consistently each year (most hybrids tulips just die 
out unless you get real winter frosts for a long period during the 
winter).  Narcissus and daffodils are more reliable and often persist for 
many years.  Focus on the small-flowered and multi-flowered types as these 
tend to do best for us.  For some years I would go begging at local garden 
centers for small potted 'tete-a-tete' narcissus so popular in pots in 
spring.  They usually had lots that were destined for the dumpster.  I took 
them to my son's school and had the kids plant them all along the sidewalk 
beds and they come back each year like clockwork!  Their diminutive size is 
very charming, then seldom fall over like the taller types, and people in 
the neighborhood tend not to pick them for themselves as they do the taller 
forms!!  Interplanting with small violas (the variously colored 
'Johnny-Jump-Up' types that self seed, in purples, lavenders, and yellows) 
is a very nice combination.

I am also a big fan of Scilla peruviana (actually native to southern Spain) 
which lately has also become available in spring in pots.  It makes a 
handsome clump of green leaves which give rise to a thick stem of hundreds 
of blue, star-like flowers which open for weeks, creating a conical head 
that is quite attractive.  This mediterranean climate plant enjoys a dry 
rest period in summer.

Wood Hyacinths (Endymion hispanica) is another very reliable bulb and often 
shared over the fence in older neighborhoods.  Blue Muscari or Grape 
Hyacinth is also very reliable and occasionally available in pots.  Many of 
the bulbs I have grown over the years have resulted from appreciating 
others' gardens - often there is plenty to share with visitors.

For summer bulbs look for Tritonias (Montbretias), Nerine, Freesias, 
Alstrœmeria, Allium, Eucomis, species Gladiolus, Ornithogalum.  There might 
be other available in your area.

Personally, I like bulbs of various kinds, even humble ones, for their life 
cycle.  Their dormancy during the hot dry summer is perfect for the 
mediterranean climate, and those which enjoy growing over the cool, wet 
winter months (making them the easiest to grow) are my favorites.  I love 
to see their 'green fingers' rising up out of the damp soil in fall, 
winter, or early spring, giving us a tangible example of the awakening of 
the green world with the return of the rains.

Currently, in my own garden, Arum palaestinum is showing its width and 
lustrous dark green leaves, small white Freesia with its delicate fans, a 
South African Freesia relative promises its handsome cream and apricot 
flowers, muscari's delicate 'green spagetti'-like leaves, Chasmanthe is 
already starting to flower, Oxalis hirta has its delicate leafy stems, and 
Zantedeschia aethiopica is thrusting form with great vigor!

Regards,
Seán O.

No. Calif. Branch of the Mediterranean Garden Society
Seán A. O'Hara - Branch co-chair
(510) 987-0577; fax (707) 667-1173; sean@support.net
710 Jean Street, Oakland, California 94610-1459, U.S.A.
http://www.MediterraneanGardenSociety.org/branches_CANo.html
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