Time to Plant Bulbs

Two months doesn’t last as long as it used to – or does it?

In mid-June, we went to a local  daylily farm, Sterrett Gardens. Some of the blooms we saw were posted in Field of Daylilies. While there, we ordered 10 plants – assorted yellows and purples. We were told to return for the bulbs in mid-August when the blooms were done.  The June post mentioned that we were going to ready a spot in the front yard – it was already there, but way to small and needed to be bigger for so many plants.
And, after all, two months from mid-June seemed like such a long time away. No problem in getting the area ready – right?

Not quite. Suddenly VERY HOT summer weather hit, the veggie garden was producing and – you got it – somehow that flower garden enlargement project got on the back burner.
THEN came August 1 and then August 15, and – right again – we got a call from Rikki Sterrett telling us the bulbs were ready – and could we could pick them up ASAP.

YIKES! no prep work had been done yet. So, we picked up the bulbs last week and then waited until the cooler evening to start work – Yeah, only 85° then. Grenville got out the portable rototiller and within 5 minutes, it died – flooded carburetor. Time to get serious and use Grenville’s friend,  John Deere. There were lots of deep roots which the tractor pulled to the surface and we finished the job with cutters or yanking them out. Sorry,  but no photos of this process, cause we were working fast and furious to get the area done and the bulbs planted before the skeeters and gnats found us – they did.

By 8:30 pm or so, the job was done, including the brick border. There was a stack of bricks – leftovers from other projects. And, there were just enough whole ones for the whole border; broken ones were used to make a walkway to the birdbath.
   
Grenville was aiming for a kidney-shaped design, but the design looks like the Jolly Green Giant might be missing a shoe from these angles. By next spring, we hope to show off the blooms. Here’s what was planted going by the name on the attached tag. We requested a selection that would be shade tolerant. Who thinks of these names?

• Always Afternoon
• Atlanta Full House
• August Bright
• Blonde is Beautiful
• Blue Reflection
• Catherine Neal
• Lemon Lollypop
• Rue Royal
• Purple Smoke
• Riptide
• Killer (gift) – this one should be interesting!

Our two wildflower gardens in the back yard are still in bloom. This first one was planted last spring and is nearly done blooming. Grenville dug out an area and sprinkled assorted wildflower seeds. This is how it looked earlier this season. Soon we’ll be cutting it back and leaving the dead blooms for next season.   
Since that first effort went so well, we decided to try again. There were several packages of wildflower seeds, so we mixed all together (as before). A friend gave us 6 red begonias (thanks Possum) and we placed them in as well. The summer went on and the only thing growing was the WEEDS – until last week – when we had a PROFUSION of blooms. Of course, the weeds kept growing too. Can anyone spot a birdbath out there? How about begonias?

  Butterflies are swarming in this wildflower garden – photos soon.