Welcome to Peru

The Peruvian daffodils are back! This was the first year they wintered-over (indoors).

 The blooms are definitely not proportional to the size of the bulbs.

But they range in height from 24" to 32"

Peruvian Daffodils

 After wintering-over in the laundry room, the Peruvian daffodils were planted less than a week ago. Without the threat of a late freeze, they are growing full-force now. Intermixed with the peruvians are some lycoris -something new for this year. The chosen planting area is small -only 4x6 feet, but that should hold all of the bulbs and their offspring for the next few years. Soon thereafter, CG will begin trading them for non-purple iris.

hibernation

(CG Jr was 'all talk' about being brave enough to hold the bulb)

 The Peruvian daffodils are wintering-over quite nicely. They are 'hibernating' in a paper bag in the cool (but not too cold) laundry room closet. They were dug-up in mid October, had the green foliage snipped off, then rinsed and dried. After dividing-off a few baby bulbs, there should be a half dozen Peruvians ready for planting towards the end of April.

(this post is more of a reminder for CG not to forget about these hard-working bulbs!)

Wednesday Garden Tour

New blooms this week include the yellow "Bright Pixie" asiatic lilys.

The outside dogs are doing a good job at keeping any would-be lily-munching rabbits away.

There are a lot more of these lilys compared to last year

(after the doggies received remedial anti-rabbit training)

the stella d'oro daylilys are performing amazingly:

the overly-elegant Peruvian Daffodils are still going,

maybe next year, a mass planting will be in order.

veggies are coming-on strong.

Wednesday Garden Tour

The surprise wine colored Louisiana iris have been the focal of the front bed for the past week.

CG really likes the color, foliage, and numbers.

to the backyard: no sign of the phlox that was planted

burning bushes are steady (encouraging more vertical growth)

california poppies are low in numbers

cannas are going full force

to the farm bed: clematis blooms are larger and more purple, when compared to last week

and now to the craziness:

what's a garden tour without the weird & wacky?

a peruvian daffodil has gone crazy with new growth

(and may bloom any day?)

(it was a few days and inches behind its sibling)

Wednesday Garden Tour:

Peruvian Daffodil:

Next year, CG plans on importing some very late blooming regular daffodils from the Back 40 Gardener. If the Peruvian daffodil is started indoors, it might be possible to have a smooth transition of blooming from the regulars to the peruvian.

Asiatic Lily:

Bold, solid color.

Iris:

The varying colors and styles.

CG is patiently awaiting the blooms of the solid white and orange iris.

Siberian Iris:

CG doesn't remember seeing these bloom before. A nice surprise.


Louisiana Iris:

They are enjoying their new home.

California Poppy Weed:

Have at least 12 growing (need to sew at least 12 more).

A Peruvian StPatrick's Day

It was a lesson learned by CG.

Planting Peruvian Daffodils in the middle of March is not a good idea. CG thought that as long as it didn't freeze, they would be ok. Then he read the back of the package and researched 'Peruvian daffodils' on the internet. Yeah, any time the average ground teperature drops under 60 degrees- it usually is deadly for them.

So, this was a very nice surprise for CG's eyes:

CG will bet his gardening reputation that this is a Peruvian daffodil pushing-up.

(no sign of the other 2 that were planted)

CG promises to take better care of them now. He will dig them, brush them off, cut-off the foilage, and store them (or it) in the laundry room -no later than mid September.

Next Spring, Peruvian daffodils will be planted on Cinqo de Mayo rather than StPatty's Day.