Daffodils!

Rainy Walk Around

the iris are having much more favorable blooming weather

(unlike what the daffodils had to endure)

lots of blooms per stem (and nice color) on this iris

diminutive iris blooms paired with newly

emerged crepe myrtle leaves

-possibly the last hooray for the daffodils- 

big, bold color 

 possibly a re-bloomer

 Gingersnap iris are at the front of the sidewalk

 the durable 3 for $5 Wal-Mart iris are a good match with 

the burning bush backdrop

 (siberians would be nice in a solid mass- not quite there yet)

 (forgot the name of these)

Gingersnap iris do indeed have a light, refreshing

root beer fragrance

First Daffodil 2011

For CG, it's a special moment that happens once a year.

It's a compressed moment that represents all of the planning and work from the previous year.

The daffodil blooms may progressively continue for the next six weeks.

When compared to last year, there will be more of them, too.

There will be nice surprises from new varieties.

Large blooms nearing 6" across, intricate doubles, majestic solid whites, and bold orange colors.

However spectacular, these cannot compare to the smallish, pale yellow that managed to become -first.

done.

For the 2010 Fall planting season.

The last 16 daffodils were planted this afternoon (temp in the low 50's).

Hopefully, conditions will be adequate for this last batch to bloom 4 months from now.

While the final tally of daffodils planted this Fall is being calculated, CG believes that he is approaching 75% capacity.

Prelude

It's the beginning of what should be a nice display.

A signal of progressive renewal.

And a simple stance of remembrance.

Yellow is the color of Remembrance

Each year since 2001, over 20,000 New Yorkers volunteer to plant 500,000 daffodils in public areas. The daffodils are donated by a bulb growing company in the Netherlands.

More from the Daffodil Project:
The Daffodil Project was founded in response to the attacks of September 11 as a memorial, which would raise the spirits of New Yorkers and revitalize parks and communities throughout the five boroughs. A joint endeavor between NY4P and the Department of Parks & Recreation, volunteers plant bulbs all over the city each fall, and in the spring communities come together to celebrate their blooming as visible symbols of perseverance and restoration.

more information here

been busy planting!

CG hasn't had time for taking too many photos lately. He has been busy planting over 300 daffodils. Most are planted in masses of 7 to 29 (think plants enjoy odd numbers). CG believes that one variety he planted will be blooming by the end of February. The forsythia bed was started with daffodil plantings in April '09 (walmart specials -some were 50 cents for a pot of 5!). Now, the bed is probably 90% full (over 200 bulbs). It's not that large of an area, maybe 20' X 12'. Between the yellow forsythia and the 6 different types yellow/yellow daffodils, CG is pleased with the development of the planting area.

Daffodil planting will conclude in the next few weeks. CG plans to purchase about 3 dozen Mount Hood variety (white/white) daffodils to finish-off the cut flower bed. This will amount to about $18...if CG wins the lottery, however, he may consider 3 dozen of these: (would cost over $1000 for 3 dozen bulbs)

See details
'Landewednack Lady' 4 W-W (LM) Per single bulb ID: SKU1321 Desription:'Landewednack Lady' 4 W-W (LM)'Pitchroy' x 'Gay Kybo'; sdlg no.786 A large rounded flower 110 mm wide; perianth and other petaloid segments in four whorls, broadly ovate, white, smooth and of heavy substance, segments are clustered at centre, opening pale yellow, becoming white.
Price per single bulb
Our price: £25.00 (€ 28.29)

The Daffodil Drive

It started Thursday. CG had not seen them in the store prior to that day. The first, fresh stock of the product. A moment of contained celebration. After months of dormant thoughts and memories, daffodils are back! A bag of 6 bulbs was selected after much perusing (of the Ice King variety- they seemed to be last year's favorite).

There's an internal drive within many gardeners; a drive for continual improvement and seasonal renewal. CG believes that daffodils are the best fuel for that drive. With many varieties, daffodils can transform any plain patch of ground into more than six weeks of colorful splendor. And with each passing year, they will multiply, offering continual improvement for zero work. Daffodils are also the most profound signal of the emerging freedom from the grips of winter and the renewal of vibrant energy with the beginning of spring.

CG will begin planting his daffodils from now till mid December. Some are ordered on-line, some are mail-ordered from a catalog, and many are hand-selected after much deliberation. (So far, the best deal on bulk quantities have been found by CG's wife at Sam's Club: 100 bulbs for $15 -a generic yellow/yellow variety).

Throughout the summer, CG was marking patches of existing daffodils, (before the last of their foliage faded) and marking areas primed for adding daffodils. Dozens of 3X5 cards have been consumed by calculating overlapping bloom times, mapping swaths of color, and wish-listing exotic varieties. Catalogs were collected and clipped, digging tools were cleaned and sharpened. All efforts in preparation of this moment.

Now is the time when the confluence of inspired thought, physical work, and the wonderment of nature are tamped into place.

'Til Next Year

Today, the daffodils have ended their run. CG is very proud of the effort that the daffodils put forth this year. Almost 2 months of continual blooming. Now the focus is on making sure they are happy- as they multiply and build-up strength for next year's blooms. With the last of the daffodil blooms fading, here's a look back at this year's show...

28 FEB first to bloom:

Have about a dozen of these in the farm bed. The small tips of white at the end of the petals kept them from going in the solid yellow forsythia bed, but there are many other places where these can go.

Solid white:

The Mount Hood daffodils. Thought there were more of these. Need to get a good crop of this type started in the farm bed.

Survivor Sams:

These were some of the few remaining daffodils that were planted in the backyard in 2005 (dogs love soft dirt for digging). They were purchased in bulk from sam's club (dogs were very apologetic).

Not sure what kind:

...but they are nice, with 3 to 4 small blooms per stem. They are the single-type of daffodil that is planted in the cut flower bed. It's tempting to plant other varieties in the bed, but for the near future, they will remain the featured early bloom (hopefully more of them for next spring).

Hmm:

A unique daffodil. Believe it was the only bloom of its type. It's located in the back corner bed with other mixed varieties, so it's where it's supposed to be and doing a good job of being unique.

The Favorite:

There's about 3 to 4 small patches of these. Very pleased with their efforts.

Yellow-Yellow Double:

Maybe a Double Campernelle. Have one small patch of these in the front bed. Not too long lasting, they start to look 'wilty' after a short time.

More of the Favorite:

even after a heavy rain, these large, full blooms are able to remain upright

can't wait 'til next year!

Favorite Daffodil

And CG doesn't remember what kind they are. But there will be more of them next year. They're very fragrant and long-lasting as cut flowers (and inexpensive...probably $5 for a half dozen).

CG's daffodil strategy for 2010 is twofold:

1. establish a few mass plantings of same type daffs (of the Carlton and Bravoure variety)

2. establish more isolated groupings of different varieties (at least 6)

CG enjoys having a wide variety of daffodils, from simple traditional solid yellow trumpets, to the very complex and powerful doubles. An order for a fall shipment of daffodils has already been placed: Double Campernelle, Misty Glenn, and Flower Record. With transplants coming from the farm bed in a few weeks, next spring is looking better already.

'09 Daffodils

Daffodils are undoubtedly CG's favorite spring-time bloom. They are extremely hardy and care-free. Currently, the daffodils in CG's landscape are scattered, seemingly singular plantings. In a few weeks, fill-in daffs from the farm bed will be transplanted to bulk-up some of the plantings in the backyard. More planned plantings of patches in the fall will provide for fuller, longer-lasting blooms in '10.

Nature's perfection.

Even if all the work during the previous fall resulted in this single bloom, CG would deem it well worth his while.

Daffodils & Crocus

With daily temps in the 70's, there's a lot happening in the garden. Daffodils are blooming in full force, and perennials are beginning to green-up. The push to complete all of the gardening projects begins in earnest during these good-weather days!

This is the single crocus blooming, hopefully, there will be many more!

Maybe Tomorrow

It seems that everywhere CG goes, he sees daffodils in bloom. Everywhere, that is, except his garden.

Maybe tomorrow.

Ready for some daffodils!

Is it too early to be thinking about daffodils?

CG thinks it's time to start planning a trip to a daffodil festival!

CG has determined that he cannot plant enough daffodils. Every fall, another small patch is planted, and the following spring, he wishes that he had planted more. 3 patches were planted this past fall, and CG will make a determined effort to designate more areas for planting next season. He will transplant the remaining daffodils from the farm bed into new areas in a few weeks. Even though they may not bloom this spring, they'll survive and multiply before next spring. CG is contemplating planting daffodils throughout the forsythia bed, and is struggling with the color choice. Solid yellow, solid white, or a mixture of both. Either way, he will buy them in bulk- 2 bags of 40 to start in early October, then finish with planting 4 more bags once they are marked-down. CG has read that daffodils planted as late as mid December in Zone 7A will still bloom the following spring.

Daffodils planted in the front bed are of a mixed variety with different blooming times. CG is looking for a solid month of blooming time from the daffodils. We'll wait and see. New varieties are fun to try-out, but CG will be locating and planting a few 'old world' daffodils such as:

"N. hispanicus MAXIMUS, TRUMPET MAJOR, 1576. Celebrated in gardens for over 400 years, ‘Maximus’ or ‘Trumpet Major’ is an especially fine form of N. hispanicus with a wild, primeval look. Its trumpet is boldly scalloped and flared, it’s petals make a dramatic star, and it lifts up its face as if worshipping the sun. It’s been treasured by Elizabethan, Victorian, and Arts and Crafts gardeners alike" -from the Old House Gardens webpage.

The cut flower bed and back bed have been planted with yellow 'King Alfred' and white 'Ice King' daffodils. These will need to be dug-out and divided this fall. Even with the additional daffodils gained from dividing, each bed could probably use another 80 bulbs.

The rock path island bed will feature solid white 'Mount Hood' daffodils. A couple dozen were planted last fall. After a few years and dividing, the small bed should be adequately full. This bed also has white day lilies, white re-blooming iris, and white crepe myrtles.

The newly cleared-out farm bed will be ready to take-in any excess or "can't pass up" specials. Usually, out of all the planting beds, the farm bed (with no rhyme or reason to its planting) is the most impressive with its blooms. CG could be discouraged by this, but he has come to accept it.

Sidewalk bed

During the spring and fall, the sidewalk bed is constantly changing. Plans are made during the winter months, along with a lot of 'what was I thinking?'. CG will be adding some iris to this bed so he will have some greenery this time next year. He ordered some potted iris that will be arriving in March, and still has a few in the farm bed that he can transplant.

Photos from March 2007:

(note the neighborhood cat's attempt to dig up the nandina)

(CG has a humane plan of action to thwart future attacks)

The bed consists of a small patch of white daffodils, hostas, red Asiatic lilies, red daylilies, and dwarf red cannas. It's time for the cannas to be thinned-out, and CG is thinking about adding white begonias.

It will be necessary for CG to install fiberglass edging along the bed in order to achieve a uniform 4" mulch depth. This will also allow the begonias to be planted right up to the border without the mulch washing onto the sidewalk. The fiberglass edging is only available in green, so CG will spray paint the front face of it brown. With its close proximity to the front door, CG believes this bed will be the safest place for the heirloom daffodils he will be planting this fall.

In general, CG doesn't mix too many plant types together. The hostas have their own dedicated space in the sidewalk bed. Last year, he planted a few part-shade tolerant daylilies amongst the hostas. The leaves seem to complement each other, and having a nice bloom within the solid mass of hostas is a good effect.

The cannas don't seem to mind growing right up next to the house, so CG will establish them as the back border with the Asiatic and daylillies filling the middle part of the bed. The begonias will provide the low border along the front. The lilies have a lot of thickening-up to do, but it's possible that wal mart might have them for $1 per pot again someday.