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Friday, December 18, 2015

New Plantings

One day, I met two young women working on some sort of program for community gardens. It was all very interesting. They were offering plots. I would have to drive so far, drag a chair and tools, and then try to find energy to work for a very few minutes until pain stopped me.

But, we kept talking. They are planning to put a raised bed in my yard. After I told them I could go out often, just not work for long, this was the plan. As we talked two weeks ago, I told her I had bought one garlic to plant, just to see what happened. However, I could not lift the large terracotta pot or the bag of dirt. She said they would come by and help me. Then, I mentioned I had bought flower bulbs on sale. She said they would plant those, also.

Thursday, they came by, carried my lawn chair out to the place for flowers. The city dug up a huge hole for the water meter and then replaced the dirt. Loose dirt is always nice.

I had a plan. They were up for it. Tell me if you think this is a bad idea. I like daffodils a lot. I had a bag of the "King Edward type" bulbs. But, daffodils look unsightly as they die. In order to have flowers the next year, you cannot chop down the green until it is a sickly yellow and lying all over.

Hosta appear later than daffodils. therefore, I think hosta in front of the daffodils will help hide dying daffodils. Does it sound like a good plan? Plausible?

Interspersed with the daffodil are the same type tulips I had last year. Hopefully, the will bloom at the same time. if it works out the way I plan, the pink tulips and yellow daffodils will look pretty.

Behind these I had them plant iris. Since I have wanted yellow iris forever, I bought two that were greatly reduced. Plus, a friend who has since died told me when she was alive that I could have yellow iris from her yard. They were put in pots. The greenery came up, but there were no flowers. Those went in the ground, too. Plus, the lavender iris were about two or three inches high. Some of those were put in the same bed.

When they started, they put the flowers in rows. Then, they dug them up and scattered the daffodils and tulip together. Very few flowers were in the ground, so there was not much to do.

I certainly hope I chose well and planned well. Next spring will be the proof.

In the flower bed I made beside the carport, there is one pink volunteer iris. I wish I knew which one it is so I could put it out front, too. It has been there for a few years, so maybe I can divide it this spring.

All the tulips that came up in the white pots last spring were rotted. Oh well, I enjoyed them. Plus, the new tulips are the same color, I believe.

Afterward, they planted the one head of garlic I bought for planting. Strawberry plants went into my strawberry pot. The plants may be dead.

Today, it was frigid and the wind was blowing. Finding my gloves tonight is one of my goals.

Next spring, the group is going to make me a raised bed. They will make it table height if I need it so I can sit. Or, they can make it any height I need.

Your turn
Have you planted anything in front of daffodils to hide dying daffodil greenery? Do you have a program in your town to help seniors with gardening?

10 comments:

  1. I have never planted anything in front of my daffodils, but I do braid the greenery after the flowers die to kind of hide them

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    1. Anne,
      I just let mine sprawl! I read that braiding is bad because not all the greenery gets the sunlight it needs. But, hey, if it works, then maybe the experts are wrong. I may try it, but if I cannot get down that far...well, we will see.

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  2. I always planted annual flowers among the daffodils to cover up the dying foliage.

    Few tulips bloom more than 1 or 2 years, hope yours do as the color combination should be beautiful.

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    Replies
    1. I thought about sowing seeds. You mean all the tulip fields I see are planted every year? grrrr. I ha a volunteer black tulip that bloomed in an odd place for about six year until it was mowed down three years in a row--an anomaly, I suppose.

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    2. This response to a Google search may clarify my response. My history with tulips is from living in New England where we planted them every year. I switched to daffodils and iris which are perennial. Here in Florida I don't have any bulbs.
      Tulips are native to southern Europe, northern Africa, Asia and Anatolia. In those or similar climates species tulips re-emerge for many years as well as spreading and reproducing naturally. Hybrid tulips in those climates might re-emerge for as many as seven or eight years, and might propagate naturally, but not as prolifically as species tulips. In other, harsher climates, many gardeners consider hybrid tulips to be annuals and re-plant them every year.

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    3. Bellen,
      Thanks for the information and clarification.

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  3. I haven't planted any bulbs but I'm interested in doing so. I seem to have a veggie obsession that pretty much takes over my gardening. The main reason I plant flowers is because my daughter likes them.

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    Replies
    1. ND Chic,

      Flowers are food for our souls. Maybe you could teach her how to plant them. I don't know what to plant this time of the year,

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  4. I think it sounds like a wonderful plan!!!
    We have bulbs everywhere in this yard. The people before us were crazy and put gardens in everywhere. It can be a bit much.

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    Replies
    1. The people before me left only daffodils. At least you have choices and can see flowers from all views.

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Okay, hoping the annoyances have gone away.