Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Species Tulips, etc.

Ever since moving down South from up North, I have mourned the loss of Tulips. But then I discovered Species Tulips! These are so much prettier than those big hybrids and they grow AND naturalize in the South. Outstanding!

I picked up these red and yellow ones last year at a local nursery. I'm not sure what kind they are exactly, but last year I had three and this year I have 6! Yay!:





Open:



OK, so Pam from Digging says these are Tulipa clusiana 'Cynthia'. Thanks for the ID, Pam! Here are some more photos of these open. You can see how they are all yellow inside:





New this year Tulip clusiana. I am completely head-over-heels in love with this one and will need to acquire more for next year:







Also new this year Tulip Saxatalis. I am going to get some yellow primrose to plant around this one (Actually, I am going to try and rescue some native yellow primrose from just down the road. They are widening the road and about to plow over a bunch of wildflowers. We'll see if I get there in time to save them from the bulldozers.):





Here are some naturalizing narcissus 'Thalia'. They have quite doubled since last spring:





And look at the redbud blooming. So pretty against the blue spring sky:



The Mt. Laurel is also beginning to bloom. Soon my garden will smell like grape soda:

10 comments:

Roberta said...

I haven't dropped in for some time. It was such a treat to see that you are actively blogging about the garden. I go in fits and spurts with gardening and blogging!

Very pretty tulips, I always consider planting the bulbs when it is too late.

Caroline said...

Gorgeous, I must have some. Which nursery had the species tulips?

Lee17 said...

Roberta,

Yeah, I have been super-busy at work the last several months. It can be hard to find time for blogging and gardening. I'm trying to re-balance the work/life thing though, so back to blogging it is! :)

Lee17 said...

Caroline,

I bought those yellow/red species tulips at Barton Springs Nursery last year. I've been meaning to get down there to see if they have any this year.

Sheila said...

Those tulips are charming!

Pam/Digging said...

The first ones look like Tulipa clusiana 'Cynthia.' I have some too, from Barton Springs Nursery.

Rock rose said...

Like you I learnt about about species tulips last year and have added to last years crop. They are gorgeous. Your spring flowers are beautiful. The rain was good for something!

Lee17 said...

Sheila,

Thank you :)

Lee17 said...

Pam,

Thank you! It is so hard for me to to tell the different ones apart (some of them look so similiar).

Lee17 said...

Lancashire rose,

They are gorgeous aren't they? I am so hooked on these species tulips!