My fall bulbs have started to come in, and with the iris and Colchicum came bulbs for Crocus Sativus - the Saffron Crocus! I'm in zone 4, so I've planted them in a container so I can take them in when it gets too cold for them. I'm so excited; hope they come up soon, as they're fall-blooming. Whatever happens, I'll definitely post an update, for ( Read more... )

I went to my local gardening centre today and saw that they were already selling spring bulbs (daffodils, tulips etc). I was just wondering when any of you who are UK-based tend to plant spring bulbs ( Read more... )

To those who like to grow exotic fruits, the Fruit and Spice Park in Homestead, Florida is truly heaven on earth. I had the opportunity to visit there again this weekend for "Mango Mania" and lecture and tasting for one of my very favorite fruits.

The speaker was none other than Chris Rollins himself, a legend in the exotic fruit crowd, an engaging ( Read more... )

In addition to the snowdrops that have spouted I now how crocuses (croci?!), tulips & daffs.
So far only the snowdrops & crocuses have flowered.

Snowdrop Single - Elwesii

Crocus:
Advance
Blue Pearl
Mixed
Plus some I dug up from the old house!

Narcissus:
Dutch Master
Kedron
Tete a tete (I bought these as an indoor arrangement last spring & planted the bulbs ( Read more... )

I have three lily bulbs - regular Asiatic lilies (Lilium 'Brunello', I believe), which I haven't been able to plant earlier due to a deluvian weather for several weeks straight. Pulling them out of the fridge today - on this wee-pocket-of-sunny-weather day, perfect for gardening - I found that they had sprouted 5 cm.

How do I best proceed? I can ( Read more... )

SNOWDROPS!!

( Read more... )

I just moved this winter and now that spring is coming in, I uncovered what the previous owners had planted. I'm not sure what some of it is though because apart from container roses and a few houseplants, I'm new to gardening. I live in Iowa, zone 5.

( Lots of pictures! )

Last week or so I begged for IDs for some of the bulbs I planted in the fall. Well, a bunch have started blooming! Check out my crocuses! (posted link because I don't have an LJ subscription.)

Thanks for the help identifying -- excited for my tulips to bloom!

There's a garden bed near the house, surrounded by sidewalk; the first crocus of the year always bloom there, even though it's also where all the snow from the sidewalk ends up.  The big lavender-ish crocus were up and blooming there a few days ago (zone 5, southern Wisconsin).  It's been warm - nearly 60 today - so there are only isolated patches ( Read more... )

So last spring I went crazy and planted a bunch of bulbs all over the place. Being the oh-so-organized gal that I am, I didn't label them, nor did I keep a list of what I planted. So, now I've got a bunch of stalks and absolutely no idea what they are! If anyone can help me out, I'll throw lots of great karma your way. ;)

The images are here, on my ( Read more... )