Longfield Gardens Archives - An Eye For Detail

THE TULIPS: ALL IS WELL!!

By Libby|2017-04-06T16:44:30-04:00April 6, 2017|Color, Friday Flowers|

My tulip panic was for naught!

Yes, they came up very early and in a new, strange way due to the early warm weather here followed by a normal cooler cycle but in the end, they have been just fine. It IS difficult to put together three varieties and have them all bloom within a few days of each other. White is always problematic I have found: they invariably flower later than other colors.

Above and below are Cathernia (white), Caravelle (deep purple) and Menton (pink) all from
John Scheepers.

It’s hard to tell the difference, but the pink above and below here is Tulip Lambada and Mystic Van Eijk from Longfield.

And now, for the biggest surprise (for me!) These orange streaked tulips that I didn’t think I had ordered when I showed them to you two weeks ago….well, yes indeed I DID order them.
These are Blushing Apeldoorn and the fringed are Tulip Lambada.
I LOVE THEM
They are my new favorite tulip: bright, cheerful, nice form and just plain gorgeous. I think next year I may plant one […]

FRIDAY FLOWERS: TULIP TIME!

By Libby|2016-10-20T17:27:25-04:00October 20, 2016|8 McDowell, Color, Friday Flowers, Garden|

Let’s pause with the travel posts (although an information-packed one is coming next week!) and talk about getting the garden ready for next spring.

Southern-States-Carrboro img_4130 Southern States in Carrboro, NC my go-to garden center.

#1 Suggestion:

Fall is, of course, THE time to do any planting. Your shrubs and perennials will thank you for getting them into the ground in the fall and NOT in the spring. By planting in the fall the plants have time to establish roots (below ground) before putting all their energy into flowering and growing (above ground.) It’s tempting, of course, to buy buy buy in the spring when you can actually SEE the pretty flowers on each plant. But horticulturally speaking, it’s best if you buy in the fall when the plants look half dead and dormant. Believe me, they are not!

#2 Suggestion:

Let’s order some tulips!
If you have been reading my blog for a while you know how I love tulips. I order at least 100 bulbs each fall. And…..yes…..I pull out each and every tulip after it has bloomed. I do this for several reasons:

1)You can never know what is going to make it for the next year. No matter what your climate, from Chicago to North Carolina, many bulbs […]