Spring Bulbs Report

The flowering bulb season has drawn to an end for this, the garden's second spring.  So it seems like a good time to review what I have learned.  (I am including cormous plants as well as true bulbs in this post since their uses in the garden are quite similar.)

I had a good many more types of bulbs to try this year than last.  In particular, there were some that were not officially "spring bulbs", but which proved to be exactly that.  Types such as Ixia and Hippeastrum have certainly rounded out my ideas of what the season could mean in the desert garden.

Hippeastrum "Ambiance"

So here is an encyclopedia of sorts, covering my experiences so far:

Freesia

Planted in the green in late spring of 2015.  One of the first cormous plants to bloom this year and very successful.  Healthy plants and heavy bloom.  These were placed in an area that receives at least a half day's shade.  I think they would also do well with a little more sun (see below).  Wonderful color and fragrance.  In their current location, they were not over-demanding of water.
 

Narcissus canaliculatus

Planted fall of 2014.  Came up scantily and bloomed very sparsely in 2015, leaves but no blooms in 2016.

Narcissus jonquilla "Suzy"

Planted fall of 2014.  Only a few sprouted.  No blooms.  No showing at all in 2016.

Narcissus x odorus

Planted fall of 2015.  Came up healthy and bloomed freely, two flowers to a stalk, good fragrance.  This is the Single Campernelle, so I expect the Double Campernelle, also known as Queen Anne's Double, would grow well here too.

Narcissus tazetta "Nir" (?)

Planted fall of 2015.  Identity doubtful as "Nir" should be white/white, more floriferous than, but similar to, the traditional paperwhite "Ziva".   The plants I grew had blooms which began as white/yellow and eventually faded to a white/primrose, but I still would not call the shallow trumpets white!  This was probably the variety known as Chinese Sacred Lily.  At any rate it grew and bloomed well and was almost certainly some sort of paperwhite.  Tazettas in general and paperwhites in particular are often recommended for growing in a mild-winter climate.  Foliage emerged much later than N. x odorus (and has lasted much longer), but bloom began only slightly later.

 

 Iris bucharica

Planted fall of 2014.  Disappointing in 2015, with a low sprouting rate and no flowers.  Did not show at all in 2016.  Perhaps this is somehow gardener error as this Juno iris should be adapted to hot, dry climates.  Or perhaps it requires some freezing weather in winter, though I see no references to this.  Perhaps worth another try but only if I can get more information on why it failed.

 

Dutch Iris "Blue Magic"

Planted fall of 2014.  Came up well in both 2015 and 2016, but many plants were blind, with only three or four flowering stalks total in 2016 (out of nearly twenty bulbs).  Given the planting location, this could be a lack of sunlight or water, or both.

 

Iris reticulata "Harmony"

Planted fall of 2014.  One or two flowers in 2015, none at all in 2016 though leaves emerged.  A species probably requiring more winter cold than I can provide without artificial chilling.

 

Tulipa saxatalis

Planted fall of 2015.  Tulipa saxatalis, along with T. clusiana varieties, is the most recommended tulip for low-winter-chill growing.  It grew and bloomed freely, slightly later than the early narcissus varieties above.  Plants are small, species-type tulips, which cannot replace the showy border tulips but are quite delightful in their own right.

 

Hippeastrum "Ambiance"

Planted late summer or autumn of 2015.  I had grown "Ambiance" in a container for Christmas 2014, then kept it in its pot through much of the following year.  As it showed no signs of going dormant, I finally planted it out into the garden, where it went through a winter dormancy to come back and bloom well this spring.  Since then I have also planted H. "Naranja" into the ground, where it is growing well.  So far foliage is fairly long-lasting, something to plan for when siting these bulbs.  They appear to be among the most promising spring bulbs for this garden and an excellent replacement for border tulips in terms of size, substance, and color impact.

 

Dichelostemma capitata

Planted in the green during spring of 2015.  These native bulbs have a tendency to come up in the most inhospitable spots in the yard, and last year I transplanted several of them into the garden.  Two grew and bloomed despite significant shade from a nearby rose bush.  These are not very conspicuous plants, with their thin, rangy foliage and small, pale flowers; but they are beautiful when viewed closely, with small, open bells of a dainty blue.  Being natives, they are certainly well-adapted.   I transfered a couple more from our ersatz driveway this spring and hope to see them thrive also.

 

Ranunculus asiaticus

Planted autumn 2015.  Magnificently successful, but water guzzlers.  These grew in considerable shade (with good drainage) near the patio roof and bloomed well and long.  I have left the corms in the ground though R. asiaticus has a dubious reputation for continuing in the garden.  Color mix included yellow, scarlet, and cherry red, as well as orange and even apricot, though the latter were not as robust.  Corms planted in a container were impossible to keep happy, wilting at the slightest provocation; ranunculus did much better in the ground for me.

 

Ixia

Planted spring of 2015.  Sold as a mix, but all flowers had characteristics of I. paniculata.  This was a surprise plant this spring.  I planted the corms last spring, expecting bloom during summer.  None so much as sprouted during summer of 2015, and I gave them up as a total failure.  During winter a number of corms finally sent up fans of foliage; then a few followed with bloom stalks laden with white flowers.  I believe these would be better planted in autumn for bloom during spring in this climate.  While the proportion of bloom was low, these seem well worth a second try, realizing they will not be summer-blooming here and should be planted accordingly.

 

Ornithogalum arabicum

Planted fall 2014 and again fall 2015.  So far fairly reliable.  Came up and bloomed profusely in spring of 2015, a little more sparsely in 2016.  They have nice size and substance as a border plant, and I would like to see them naturalize in this garden, but there is no sign of this yet.  So far these are the latest to bloom of the spring bulbs and a lovely conclusion to the season.
 
The season could, in fact, have extended a good deal longer; but until now I have focused on the early-flowering types, not knowing just when they would bloom here or how soon summer's heat might set in.  Watching two springs in the garden, I am sure I will be using some of the later varieties by next year. 

All in all, spring of 2016 was encouraging in the matter of bulbs.  I realize now that, being decidedly seasonal, many of these plants might be better off in the sunniest spots in the garden; with the early bloomers, at least, there is no priority for shade, as there is with summer plants.

Differences in drainage throughout the garden may play a role also.  I have always found narcissus fairly tolerant of clay, for instance.  And I hope that as I can improve the soil regularly, more of these bulbs will settle in to bloom year after year.

Weather Diary: Fair; High: 75 F (24 C)/Low: 62 F (17 C)

In a Vase: April?

As I mentioned in a recent post, it has seemed a little surprising to have sunflowers blooming in April.  And now chrysanthemums!

At any rate, there was no question what the contents of today's vase would be.  I didn't want to miss the opportunity to feature these two together in a vase.  In springtime.

This chrysanthemum was an unnamed box store purchase last autumn when it was in full bloom.  After resting through winter, it is now putting out a new burst of flowers.  I expected to treat it as an annual, which it may yet be once summer takes hold.  But in the meantime, it is looking lush and setting quite a few buds.  I'm not pinching them; I'd rather let it get through a cycle of bloom at its own speed before the weather turns irreversibly hot.

Individual flowers are a bit ragged, as well they may be, given the near-gale force winds we have been having.  Not to complain, they have blown cooler air back into the region!

The sunflowers are from a packet of "Cutting Gold" seeds.  They are thriving despite a recent aphid attack.  So far I am able to control the aphids by hosing the plants down.  It probably doesn't help to have a healthy ant colony nearby!

But, in fact, the sunflowers seem to be supporting a good deal of small garden life.  I had to remove a miniscule bee and a large spider from kitchen sink to garden after bringing the first sunflower in.  For the second, there was the wasp I slid onto the blades of my pruning shears and transferred to another sunflower.  I think everything was holding on hard to any shelter from the winds.  But there are limits as to what one wants indoors.  I preferred to just have flowers!

Chrysanthemums and sunflowers combined with Artemisia "Powis Castle"...

...whose silver foliage filled out the bouquet.  I used my handthrown stoneware vase with narrow neck and textured shoulder for today's flowers.

So although I'm not sure what the usual bloom times of these flowers may be here, I'm enjoying a little burst of near-autumn in April.

 To see what other gardeners are finding to put in vases on this last Monday in April, do check Cathy's post at Rambling in the Garden.

Weather Diary: Fair and breezy; High: 79 F (26 C)/Low: 66 F (19 C)

Garden Foliage in April: Some Spring Colour

It has been a curious process, readjusting to the presence of winter-deciduous plants in this garden.  All the more so, since my earlier garden contained few evergreens of any sort, and the leafing-out of springtime was one of its most characteristic pleasures.

But the whole thing looks a good deal different in a garden where many plants do not change much from month to month: a falling-off of bloom or even foliage in summer and, if anything, a burst of new growth in winter.  A very few plants die back for the cool season to emerge again in spring.  Many make the most of the cooler weather by putting forth their best by February at the latest.

The result was a very anxious gardener hovering over three most-definitely deciduous plants: structural plants at that, which I am depending on to eventually provide height year-round and much-needed shade during summer.  The plants in question are two crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica "Rhapsody in Pink" and "Dynamite") and one desert willow (Chilopsis linearis "Lucretia Hamilton").  I checked daily at least for the better part of February and some of March.  Looking at those dry branches, wondering where -- or indeed, whether -- new buds would break on the stems.  I am not familiar with the habits of these plants so I looked for any little signs of sap rising, pushing out the tiny leaves.  I worried that I had been careless during our relatively dry winter, not providing moisture often enough to sustain the youngsters!

But at last, they all three poked out a few tips, then came into full leaf.  The Chilopsis was the last to show any signs of life; and, with the rest of the garden in full spring bloom, I really did have my doubts until a drive around town showed me that many mature desert willows still had no green either.  So, for the record, it seems that Chilopsis tends to break dormancy only in mid-spring.

I have no pictures of the Chilopsis.  Although looking healthy, it is still only about 10 inches high, with one main tuft of its long leaves sprouting round the tiny stem.

But the Lagerstroemias are larger and, making up for winter's bare branches, are worth looking at right now for their burgundy-coloured new growth.

On "Dynamite" this is beginning to have shadings of green in the older leaves...

...which wrap the stems up to where last year's seedpods fell from a few branch tips.



"Rhapsody in Pink", which leafed out later and still shows little green in its striking foliage colour...

...is ahead in other ways.  It is already setting buds, which may well open by next month.  (Yes, it is still quite small itself, and those are grass stems shooting across the photo!  But in a few years, if all goes well, it will overhang the Muhlenbergia beside it.)

Lagerstroemias are known to produce a nice touch of autumn colour even in mild climates, where it is hard to come by.  I did not realize they would add such a wonderful, deep-toned accent in spring.

Thanks to Christina of My Hesperides Garden for encouraging us to look at what foliage contributes to the garden each month!

Weather Diary: Sunny and breezy; High: 96 F (36 C)/Low: 69 F (21 C)

In a Vase: Delicate Flowers, Rich Fragrance

The scent went wafting through the kitchen while we were eating.  This week's vase is composed of sweet peas, lemon thyme, and one Sterling Silver rose.  As small as it is, I think possibly this is my most fragrant bouquet yet!

I used a much-loved cup and saucer laden with wisteria blooms: one plant that I definitely do not have in the garden, but it was certainly the right colour for all the cool pinks and purples!

There have been three colours and patterns of sweet peas from the Old Spice mix that I started last autumn.  There is a bright coral pink on pink.

There is a very soft, cool, silvery pink.

And there is a vibrant, two-tone, purple on maroon.  These and the bright pink seem to be more vigorous.

Foliage and tiny flowers came from the lemon thyme, which is blooming heavily at the moment.

I spent much of the morning out with my horse and our veterinarian, trying to resolve what appears to be a recently developed allergy.  It seems such a minor thing -- dust in the hay or perhaps the Bermuda hay itself -- but it has been making life miserable for Johnny and therefore me for a couple of weeks or more now!  Unfortunately, it looks set to take much longer to go away than it did to develop.

Inevitably, today's vase-making and photography were rapid, to say the least.  I took everything outside again for help from the afternoon sun.  But the fragrance was surperb!

Wishing all of you a great week, with thanks to Cathy for hosting this wonderful meme that helps keep Mondays bright!

Weather Diary: Fair; High: 87 F (31 C)/Low: 62 F (17 C)

Garden Bloom in April

April has been a wonderful season for annuals and roses here in the small, sunny garden.

There are sweet peas -- a nice showing from my handful of "Old Spice" seedlings...

...and California poppies (Eschscholzia californica)...

Cerinthe major purpurea is still blooming vigorously.

Cerinthe major purpurea against a cluster of bright scarlet pelargoniums

The classic pelargoniums are flowering well: a coral orange variety and (below) the even more traditional scarlet.

In addition, German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) has self-seeded from last year and is now opening a few flowers.

But the big surprise has been the early opening of my sunflowers, which I wrote about in my last post.  Sunflower "Cutting Gold" has not yet reached its stated 5 ft tall, but why complain?  The bees don't!  And I'm pleased with the traditional yellow and brown flowers.

Then there are the roses.

rose James Galway

The first flush was abundant, but blooms in the Rose Border had quite a bit of trouble with windburn.  Some failed to open while others were splotched or turned to crepe.  At the same time there were thrips, which did plenty of damage as well.  As the flowers recovered from the windburn, the thrip problems began to resolve.  I don't know what will be seen over the next week as we have had another bout of heavy wind the last few days and yesterday in particular, with gusts around 35 to 40 mph (56 to 64 kph). Thankfully the winds have been cool, but they are still very drying to plants in their path.  And the baby Palo Verde tree which begins the new sheltering lane for the roses needed a bit of protection itself!  I must set to and stake it soon.

Speaking of which, the young Palo Verdes (Parkinsonia, probably the hybrid "Desert Museum") are blooming as well.

Back to the roses!

In spite of weather there was a good early showing from most of the bushes.  St. Swithun...

...Crown Princess Margareta...

...The Generous Gardener...

...and James Galway.

James Galway.  This picture shows the spotting on some of the outer petals.

Graham Thomas continues to fall behind the other roses, simply unhappy with the moisture conditions, I believe.  This most beautiful (when well grown) of the David Austin roses is apparently not a good candidate for growing in the desert.

Quite the opposite is Wollerton Old Hall, flowering luxuriantly at the top of the Central Bed.  Given its location, it had minimal trouble with wind or thrips and has poured out a torrent of bloom.

Sterling Silver has also bloomed freely.

Hybrid tea rose Sterling Silver.  Yes, the colour is indeed this blue as shadow falls across the garden.

A real treat is William Shakespeare 2000, transplanted from the patio last autumn, and now thriving in the Central Bed.  I love this variety, not only for the sumptuous, quartered blooms, but also for the equally sumptuous fragrance.

Lastly, The Alnwick Rose has been another mass of bloom at the opposite corner.

The miniatures have given a nice showing as well.

Unexpected rebloom has come from Anigozanthos flavidus, grown in a container...

...and Eremophila maculata "Valentine" -- not a lot of flowers, but a pleasant little burst of colour well after the main blooming season, which is early spring.  A very deep soaking may have contributed.

First flowers are coming now on summer-blooming Gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri).  This is an unidentified pink variety, whose burgundy stems and leaves add interest in their own right.

Another source of excitement has been the first blooms from my new Chrysactinia mexicana.  This plant seems possibly to be a heavier bloomer than its predecessor (sadly lost in an attempt to transplant it), but that may be due to the change in location.  Chrysactinia mexicana is one of the few plants I have grown here that seem to prefer more sun rather than less.

Lastly, there are a number of hummingbird plants that are blooming now, including three fairly new to the garden.

Calliandra californica, expected to grow to roughly 4 ft (1.2 m)...

...the small perennial Cuphea ignea "Vermillionaire"...

...and the potentially much larger Justicia californica, which is already proving a magnet for hummingbirds.  It is said to bloom primarily in the cooler seasons, so is winding down now for the summer.  Nevertheless, it has some flowers left, very much like the Cuphea above: long, slender scarlet tubes.

April is certainly a lovely month in the desert garden!

Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day each month!

Weather Diary: Overcast; High: 83 F (28 C)/Low: 60 F (16 C)