Bulbmania

Just wanted to send out a quick note that I have been unable to post any new blogs recently because our bulb season has been so busy. I am thrilled to say that our bulb season this year has been fantastic. I think many of the clients that cut back last year realized how important spring color is to their world. I was speaking with a buyer yesterday and he explained how one of his customers was disappointed with his beds after he reduced the number of bulbs he planted in each bed. "Don't ever let me do that again" he told this buyer. I can't wait until next Spring to see all the color. Scilla siberica has been hot this year, look for the bright blue landscapes next spring. 

As a side note I came across a wonderful blog site with great personal development tips that I thought I would share with you all.  http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/

Alliums Gaining Garden Momentum

Allium chistophii

Allium giganteum flower head

One great plant whose time has truly come is our favorite of the onion family (Alliaceae), the Allium or ornamental onion. The last few years, but more significantly this year, has shown a dramatic increase in landscape architects, contractors and individual home owners choosing to plant alliums. Not surprising since they have proven to be spectacular attention getters when they bloom in late spring into early summer. I often explain in my bulb talks how they fill a need for color in the garden from May to June, when the early spring bloomers are finished and the summer bloomers have barely started. The individual strength and stature of the taller varieties is amazing. Four foot tall plants that can take a 30-40 mph wind and not break in half. They have proven their value since some of the more hybridized varieties can be a little pricey. Perhaps because of their ability to return year after year with equal vigor, not to mention their ability to perform even after the flower has dried. One Garden Center even had someone go out and spray paint the dried flower heads, causing quite a stir. Everyone wanted to know what those brightly colored flowers were. Here are a few pictures from my garden of allium christophii and giganteum.

giganteum and christophii

Gourds Gone Crazy

While visiting one of my customers, Mini Earth Greenhouse http://www.miniearthgreenhouses.com, this week I was floored by his display of highly unusual gourds. I never knew there were so many kinds. I knew there were some that grew unusually large, but the shapes and color variations that these things come in was amazing. Here I have a few pictures of his displays. See if you can tell which is the Swan Gourd (it shouldn't be that hard). Would you believe there is actually a national gourd society http://americangourdsociety.org and an Illinois gourd society http://americangourdsociety.org/ILGS. Phew... I resisted doing a gourd joke, it was hard but I did it.

New Blends for Landscape Architects and Contractors

DeVroomen has added several new blends to their Contractor Program in 2010, one of which "Jimmy Frills" I have highlighted in a previous blog, but I now want to show you some of the other blends that are new for us this year.

From top to bottom:
"Heather's Favorite"
"Royal Oxford"
"Golden Royal"

As you can see purple has been a dominant theme through most of these blends, it balances off the color schemes quite nicely. A darker base color sets off the more brilliant oranges, reds and yellows, making them stand out more.

In the last couple years we have named an introduction after the person who either designed the blend or brought a good one to our attention, this year it was "Heathers Favorite". We would like to continue to do this and would ask for your participation by notifying us of what you might have designed,  or what you think would make a good blend. It is certainly not restricted to just tulips.

Contact: email  richard@devroomen.com

New 2010 Blend 'Jimmy Frills'

This blend is a new Fall 2010 introduction for DeVroomen, we call it 'Jimmy Frills'. Made up of a fringed tulip called 'Fancy Frills' and a triumph tulip called 'Jimmy'. The combination of pink and orange just glows in the sunlight, plus the slight reddish hue in the 'Jimmy' along with the whiteish base of the 'Fancy Frills' really adds to the depth of this blend. This photo has not been retouched at all, it's exactly the way it looked.

Epimedium the Overlooked Ground Cover

I don't think there is a more overlooked plant in our landscapes than the Epimedium. This plant tolerates shade, as well as moist conditions and handles tree roots quite well. If your sick of only being able to plant Hosta's in these spots, plant some Epimedium. Many more varieties are coming available with brighter flower colors and more flowers. Traditionally these flowers hang downward and sometimes are only slightly above the foliage, but many new varieties are holding the flowers high above the foliage with multi-colored blooms. The foliage also has some color characteristics from a rust red color to a yellowish hue. Although slow to establish they are marvelous plants once they do so, and will persist for many years.

Royal Garden Party and Wisely

Still one of my favorite blends in our Fall Blend program, Royal Garden party was introduced in Fall 2008. One reason I am so partial to it is where I first saw it, the Royal Horticultural Garden Wisley in Surry England, UK. Among all the beautiful sights, this blend caught my eye from about 50 yards away (or should I say meters). The striking orange and purpley color combo of the double tulip 'Orange Princess' and the tall singular tulip 'Blue Ribbon' is set off even further by the unusual blue gray foliage of the 'Orange Princess'. I have included a few photos that I took back in spring of 2007. I also wish I coud have gone back in a few weeks to see the Gunnera all grown out, that must have been a sight. I should have taken a picture of the "Bangers and Mash", talk about comfort food, if you're ever there don't pass them up.