It's that time of year again when daily work in the garden has given way to occasionally running out to water dried pots after work and trying to keep up with everything else during the few free hours of the weekend. It's kind of messy right now with leaves beginning to fall, branches, once tied back, now flopping into paths, pruning needing to be done, squirrels and racoons continuing to dig up some newly-planted things. Yikes. In addition, there are many powdery mildew-infested begonias in pots on the patio awaiting their fate. Should I continue spraying, keep the tubers and hope for the best or just throw the whole lot away, keeping only the ones that avoided the summer of mildew mania? On the bright side, soon everything will be covered with fallen leaves, including the koi pond that also needs to be cleaned again already. The heaviness of the garden presses in as the daunting task of relocating so many plants for the winter looms. At the moment, I'm not thrilled with the garden and think that if a nice Californian showed up with a Uhaul, I'd let them take most of the tender plants away, to live out their lives happily planted in the ground instead of cooped up in pots. At such times, it's fun to think of the growing season to come and stir up ideas for spring.
Some years, I remember to Order early from bulb catalogs and, truth be told, it's not too late to do so but I'm not sure I'd have the time or energy to plant several hundred bulbs in the next few weeks. I tend to order way too many bulbs from catalogs when there are quantity discounts. No, this year I'll just add a few locally-purchased bulbs to those already in the garden. That'll be enough to stir up some excitement for spring. This year I'll plant Narcissus 'Tête-à-Tête' because you can never have too many of them, Orange Monarch and Yellow Monarch crocus because there are swaths of purples but the yellows have dwindled for some reason, and Tulips 'Christmas Orange' and 'Gavota.' There may be a few more bulb purchases once these are planted. We'll see. What spring blooming bulbs will you be planting this fall?
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I just looked up Tulip Gavota. What a beauty and a new one to me. I’m ordering some Tulips and Fritillaries, but thevarieties escapeme at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI didn't order bulbs from any catalogs either this year for the same reasons. I usually get most of them in the ground, but some inevitably end up sitting on the dining room table drying out till next spring and never make it because I run out of steam. I am very tempted by the big bags of Alliums at our brand new Costco, though.
ReplyDeleteI haven't ordered any bulbs and I am not sure I will. This has been such a long hot dry summer I feel like I don't want to risk any bulbs. I will just wait to see what the weather situation will be before I dare to purchase any bulbs.Maybe if it cools off a little I can think bulbs.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't planned to order any bulbs this year but of course I did. I promptly forgot about them until a small package arrived yesterday - just 36 bulbs in total (Spanish bluebells and a few allium) so they don't present an onerous task. The question I can't answer off-hand is: was that the only bulb order I placed?
ReplyDeleteOur big order from the Skagit Valley will be arriving soon. Planting is a bit job, but we do love the results. And the old bulbs will go to the island garden again.
ReplyDeleteYes, I feel the same way about the garden and California this time of year. My order of alliums and camassia should be delivered soon. I always find it hard to make the transition this time of year. Until there's frost in the forecast (hopefully not until mid-October), I will live in denial. ;-) Your tulips and crocuses will be so bright and cheery in the spring. I agree about 'Tete-a-tete.'
ReplyDeleteHmm. Wish I had a U-Haul...
ReplyDeleteI always think I will order some bulbs and never get around to it. That does make it easy!
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I sympathize with that garden dissatisfaction. I felt it periodically all summer. Right now, I have most of the problem areas cleared and ready for replanting with plants that will, hopefully, work better. Hope your discontented phase passes quickly and you fall in love with your garden again.
ReplyDeleteThese are so unusual and interesting, Peter - your collection is always full of surprises!
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