any day

Compared to last year, the daffodils are a little more than a week behind schedule. Maybe only half have even pushed-up shoots. At least they are stronger in numbers- close to 500 more than last year. There's a good variety of fragrant, showy, intricate, unique, and traditional daffodils. And even though there was a lot of planning involved in their placement, there will always be surprises.
So far, it seems the farm bed daffodils have multiplied quite well. These should be yellow/yellows that will be used to continually bulk-up the forsythia bed. The front bed will have to be watched closely and marked for areas that need to be planted. CG is anticipating $1 gallon pots (3 to 5 bulbs apiece) available at walmart following the end of the blooming cycle.
The next few days are expected to be sunny with highs in the low 60's. This should kick the plants into high gear, and signal the start to a busy gardening season. Big things are expected from the daffodils this year- and it should start....any day...

Mid February Landscape Notes

1. took advantage of a few warm afternoons to do some weeding in the front yard
2. stores began stocking bagged daylilys (and other dormant plants) by the second weekend of this month
3. front sidewalk bed needs to have a border installed
4. backyard corner bed needs more mulch
5. non-white daylilys need to be transplanted from the rock island bed (marking system worked well)
6. pruning of the crepe myrtles has been completed (took about 3 hours)
7. bird feeder needs to be replaced
8. need a couple more loads of rock from ES
9. iris should be checked more often for exposed rhizomes
10. upper reaches of the river birch trees still need to be pruned
    

Groundhog Day

Mid January Landscape Notes

1. had a brutal short snap of single digit temps
2. early rising daffodils seem to have re-adjusted
3. need to finish cleaning-out beds
4. will add pine straw to the mass of iris plantings
5. only a few more weeks before crepe myrtles get pruned
6. hoping to have a daffodil in bloom by 21FEB
7. still need to prune the upper reaches of the river birches
8. need to plan-out areas for planting annuals in the Spring
9. should have fully planted the farm bed with daffodils
10. getting impatient with the slow growth of the front azaleas
    

had a mission

having completed daffodil planting a few months ago, CG just now discovered his intended 'daffodil mission' for Spring 2010 (as stated in his blog posting of April 2009) :

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)

and the results:

missed completely on #1

half-credit on #2 (planted about 3 isolated groupings)

the excuses:

was focused mainly on the yellow/yellow mixed variety plantings in the forsythia bed

tried to fill-in spotty areas of existing beds, rather than take-on new areas with mass plantings of daffodils

areas for mass plantings of daffodils need to be prepped and ready by mid Sept. (by the time CG was done planting the forsythia bed, it was too late to tackle new areas for daffodils)

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!)

yikes

CG has noticed several 'way too early' daffodils pushing-up. With some consistent cold weather and an extra layer of protective mulch, all should be well.

Mid December Landscape Notes

1. weather has been very mild with above average rainfall
2. began pruning burning bushes
3. will have a good amount of 'canna mulch' ready for the planting beds
4. still need to transplant the crocus
5. the semi-dormant dallis grass is easier to pull-up this time of year (beginning early Nov.) after a soaking rain
6. azaleas that were moved to the farm bed are doing well
7. did not do any fertilizing this Fall
8. had at least 2 small bag worm infestations in the river birch trees
9. nandina bushes are about 80% filled-in as a naturalized mass planting
10. pondering whether or not to attempt the Calif. poppies from seeds again
    

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

done.

Fall daffodil planting has been completed. Potted daffodils will be planted in the Spring, after they are marked-down. However, it may be challenging to find new areas for planting. In addition to daffodils, about 3 dozen iris have been added. One particular variety of bearded iris still remains on the 'need to find' list -Gingersnap (supposedly it smells like root beer).

((Best daffodil website))

((an informative blog dedicated to daffodils))

Mid November Landscape Notes

1. had a late frost this year
2. finding non-planted areas for daffodils will be a big challenge next year
3. still need to transplant crocus from cut flower bed
4. happy with number/variety of bearded iris plants
5. trying to keep-up with year-round anti-weed campaign
   
6. forsythia bed is still a few years away from maturity
7. need to stake wayward crepe myrtle branches instead of pruning them off (rock island bed)
8. have a good start of ajuga going in the south side bed
9. need to trellis the vine in the farm bed
10. will consider planting butterfly bushes in the cut flower bed, and a natchez-variety crepe myrtle in the back corner bed
    

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)