HAVE YOU DONE your bulb purchasing but? It’s ordering time each for fall-blooming treats like Colchicum, which you’ll be able to solely purchase now for those who hurry, and for the ever-wider assortment of fall-planted, spring-into-summer blooming species.
Ken Druse and I each have been making lists of bulbs we as soon as grew however now not have and need to replenish, or of ones we now have however need to add extra to enhance the visible influence, and likewise some new-to-us goodies. Plus, we talked about when and the way to divide these Narcissus that may be blooming much less lustily than they used to after a few years within the floor.
Ken is a longtime buddy and the creator of 20 backyard books who gardens in New Jersey, and he’s my co-host a number of occasions a yr in our Digital Backyard Membership collection of on-line lessons. His intensive gardens are loaded with distinctive crops, together with a range of bulbs (we each love martagon lilies, as an example, like those at Ken’s, above).
Learn alongside as you take heed to the Aug. 26, 2024 version of my public-radio present and podcast utilizing the participant beneath. You’ll be able to subscribe to all future editions on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) or Spotify (and browse my archive of podcasts right here).
bulb purchasing and dividing, with ken druse
Ken Druse: Hello, Margaret. Each time you say, “Oh, let’s discuss bulbs,” I find yourself doing a little analysis, and I purchase all the things I see.
Margaret Roach: Are you charging me then? Is that what you’re making an attempt to inform me; you’re sending me a invoice?
Ken: No, no. That’s a good suggestion. You stated making an inventory, and yearly I take into consideration making an inventory and I actually don’t ever do it. However this yr, I took photos particularly to recollect I wish to purchase that, or I want I had that, or I would like extra of that. So I really had a photographic record.
Margaret: Oh, that’s an awesome thought really, as a result of in sure areas, within the entrance of beds or borders, I may need a number of remaining of some little treasure that I had much more of years in the past, however the mattress’s gotten slightly wider and different issues in it have gotten larger, and the bulbs have possibly diminished. If I had taken an image, I’d know precisely the place [laughter] and what now, yeah.
Ken: Nicely, you fully set me up.
Margaret: Oh, sorry.
Ken: There’s a patch of Narcissus pseudonarcissus [above], which is a species that grows in Europe and it grows in England and in Wales. It’s the topic of, effectively, it’s in William Robinson’s guide about wild gardening, and it’s in Wordsworth’s poem, “I wandered lonely as a cloud, beside the lake beneath the timber, fluttering and dancing within the breeze,” concerning the golden daffodils. It’s a small daffodil and it’s very early, it begins to bloom in March.
This yr, we had a cool spring, it went on for over a month. However I’ve observed that this patch, which used to naturalize, develop as if it was pure and bought bigger and bigger, hasn’t gotten any bigger. It’s doing O.Ok., however I planted it underneath a sapling of a weeping Katsura, which is now a huge tree. Regardless that it blooms and will get ripe just about earlier than the leaves come out, it must be divided to be extra wholesome and to unfold slightly extra. But additionally I would like to maneuver a few of it to a sunnier spot.
Margaret: Yeah, and even what you had been saying concerning the sapling become an enormous tree, even root competitors can simply be this unseen one thing that’s outpacing the wants of the bulbs which can be among the many massive roots now, by way of for vitamins and moisture and no matter. Yeah.
Nicely, we’re going to speak about dividing for positive. I believe first, let’s perform a little digital purchasing or lusting after issues. Once you bought to your home, while you guys began making the backyard there: What number of years do you have got that home now?
Ken: About 30 years.
Margaret: Yeah. I’m even slightly longer than that the place I’m. Have been there bulbs while you bought there? Have been there any that you simply keep in mind within the current place?
Ken: It’s humorous, as a result of I do know we’re going to speak about some fall blooming issues quickly, however there have been hardly any bulbs. Then there was a shock [laughter] about this time of yr when the Lycoris … On this place, the individuals who lived right here final and earlier than them for years hadn’t finished something. This place was a large number, however Lycoris [below], typically referred to as bare women, or now they’re calling it thriller bulb or one thing, however they popped up: Shock! Pink flower lily-like flowers on lengthy stems. And we had them for a number of years after which they disappeared as a result of earlier than we raised the wall slightly bit, as you already know we had floods, and a whole lot of issues didn’t make it by, the crops.
Margaret: So the wall alongside the river or stream subsequent to you?
Ken: Proper, a quick department of the river, this backyard’s on an island in a small river, and we used to have numerous floods twice a yr a minimum of. And a whole lot of crops don’t like that.
Margaret: Proper. Nicely, particularly bulbs that they need to have often a dry relaxation interval throughout their dormancy. They don’t need to rot throughout that point. It’s attention-grabbing that you simply say that the shock lilies or no matter we’re calling the Lycoris, Lycoris squamigera is the species: That was what I inherited additionally. And there’s a clump within the yard on the hillside, and there’s a clump within the entrance yard. And yearly they nonetheless shock me as a result of I fully overlook as a result of they’re a type of issues that has no foliage besides at a sure second within the lifecycle. You realize what I imply? A lot of the yr there’s no foliage, so it’s not such as you see the clump after which the flower arises from the clump, and you then all the time see the leaves after and you already know what I imply? [Photo above by Namazu-tron on Wikimedia Commons.]
Ken: I do.
Margaret: So it’s a shock. They usually’re simply so robust apparently, besides after they dwell subsequent to a river that floods [laughter]. So I didn’t plant them. And they also’ve bought to be a minimum of 35-plus years outdated and who is aware of. So it’s fantastic, and pink will not be one thing I’d’ve chosen, but it surely makes me comfortable. I simply chortle each time: Up they arrive and there they go, and I take pleasure in them. And it’s in August often, so enjoyable. I used to be simply saying-
Ken: It’s like, sorry, you talked about that you simply don’t see them, and also you don’t give it some thought, which makes me consider the Colchicum, as a result of I do see these within the spring, as a result of they’ve such massive thick leaves and so they’re in the best way.
Margaret: Proper. In order that they do. And so Colchicum, though we name them autumn crocus, they’re not a crocus. They do appear like an enormous crocus, however they’re not. Crocus are within the iris household, Colchicum are within the lily household. In order that they’re totally different though they give the impression of being the identical, which tells you why we shouldn’t use widespread names, though we will’t pronounce the Latin ones more often than not [laughter]. They usually’re each corms, not bulbs, in order that they’re simply confused, besides they’ve this very totally different behavior. You get a whole lot of massive low-to-the-ground foliage in spring, however no flower then that fades away, that withers and you chop it again or no matter. [Above, ‘Waterlily’ Colchicum.]
After which immediately, any day now at my place, I believe any day now, subsequent week, month, no matter, I’m going to start out seeing these purple or white crocus-like flowers, however the flowers have extra petals or regardless of the components are, and there’s extra to them. It’s not like a person flower or two out of every corm. It’s extra like teams. They usually’re fantastic and they’re, once more, a shock as a result of there’s nothing there marking their place from late spring till bloom time.
Ken: Nicely, the massive trick I believe, or the factor to consider horticulturally, is what you plant them subsequent to or with since you need possibly hostas or one thing that comes up late within the spring since you need to disguise that foliage. It’s not the nicest foliage.
Margaret: Within the, yeah. And it’s, but it surely’s positively a whole lot of foliage.
Ken: Proper.
Margaret: And that’s one you could solely plant it within the early fall. You’ll be able to solely plant it or get it, organize them, round this time of yr. And I noticed a whole lot of locations are already promoting out. So it’s one thing if you wish to get the Colchicum, the so-called autumn crocus, you actually should do it summer time or proper now on the newest to be able to make the most of their season. They’re not one thing that’s offered afterward.
Ken: Proper. And I did [laughter]. That’s the factor.
Margaret: Yeah. Oh, so now you’re charging me for that. O.Ok. Put it on my invoice.
Ken: I’ve some double white ones coming, I believe.
Margaret: Oh, good, good, good. Yeah. So we’ve all had successes and failures and so forth, and even once more, with out flooding and stuff, do you have got one factor that you simply’d identical to to rapidly title as your greatest bulb of success, one that you simply do very well with? Is there something like that? Mine is Eranthis [above], the winter aconite.
Ken: Oh, I’ll say.
Margaret: Which was my least profitable at first. And I believed, “What have I finished? Why isn’t it rising?” And this goes again many years. And it was like I had two after which I had three. After which for now I’ve a whole lot and a whole lot and a whole lot and a whole lot and a whole lot as a result of they like to, as soon as they’re comfortable, they self-sow themselves a lot better than while you plant the bulbs. The success fee from these self-sowns is simply so a lot better than while you put the bulbs within the floor. So now I’ve these mature swaths of them. So yeah, so I’d say Eranthis is my most profitable. I simply questioned for those who had one that you simply suppose, “Oh, we’ve finished very well with these.”
Ken: Nicely, you’re going to have to assist me with the pronunciation.
Margaret: Oh, good luck with that [laughter].
Ken: Nectaroscordum.
Margaret: Yeah, you bought it. Nectaroscordum. Proper, proper.
Ken: And it was Allium bulgaricum.
Margaret: Proper, precisely. And now it’s Nectaroscordum siculum [above]. Sure, sure.
Ken: Proper. Nicely, they’re simply comfortable all by themselves.
Margaret: They’re. That’s a enjoyable one.
Ken: Typically pop up within the place you didn’t know, as a result of it is a shady place. They don’t often have straight stems. They’re humorous like snakes. First they crawl alongside the bottom, then they arrive up.
Margaret: Oh yeah. They like extra solar to be erect and maintain up these trusses of flowers. Yeah.
Ken: However there’s one other species that’s rising right here, and it was actually costly. I don’t know if it nonetheless is, however is Nectaroscordum tripedale [below from Ken’s].
Margaret: I ponder if it’s pronounced tripedale. I don’t know. I’m simply making that up.
Ken: Yeah, see, I instructed you I didn’t realize it.
Margaret: Yeah, no, it’s O.Ok. It doesn’t matter. It wasn’t a spoken language, botanical Latin, proper?
Ken: These persons are lifeless, all these people. Have you ever ever seen that Nectaroscordum?
Margaret: Sure.
Ken: It’s beautiful. Oh my gosh.
Margaret: Proper. Lovely. O.Ok., in order that’s one other one. So talking of successes, failures. I can’t develop crocus due to the animals. Simply overlook about it. And tulips equally, I’ve given up on, as a result of it was simply all the time having to guard them and no matter. It was an excessive amount of of a ache within the neck. However yeah, crocus I don’t do effectively with as a result of they’re identical to sweet for all of the animals.
Ken: And there’s a number of, there’s really fairly a number of fall-blooming crocus.
Margaret: Oh, and do you have got any of these? Are you rising any of these?
Ken: Nicely, I do now [laughter].
Margaret: Uh-oh, he’s purchasing people. Uh-oh.
Ken: I all the time needed to develop Crocus speciosus [above, at Ken’s], which is bluish and blooms within the fall, and I by no means have, however I might be this yr and I believe I’m going to strive Sternbergia. Sternbergia lutea. I believe that’s referred to as autumn daffodil. It’s a typical title I believe, but it surely has yellow flowers. Seems to be like a crocus. And that’s one other fall-blooming. So that you’ve bought me into this complete fall blooming factor.
Margaret: Oh, attention-grabbing. O.Ok. Blame Margaret. Simply go forward, blame Margaret. Yeah, like I stated, I can’t develop crocus and I even tried the tommasinianus, the Tommies, the crocus. They’re imagined to be probably the most animal-resistant and so they had been a catastrophe additionally, for me. However usually talking, these will do higher. I simply have a whole lot of very decided animals. Even when they don’t eat them precisely, they knock their heads off [laughter] and dig them up and issues like that. So I gave up.
However talking of animals, there are issues, and I’ve an inventory of… There are animal-resistant bulbs, and a few are even virtually actually animal-proof, just like the Narcissus as an example, and the Colchicum that we’re simply speaking about. Actually, no person’s going to mess with these. And I believe the Eranthis, the winter aconite that I discussed earlier than. Hyacinths, Galanthus, the decorative onions; you simply talked about a few of these and their family.
Ken: The Allium. Nicely, I additionally purchased, I did this not due to you really, due to our dialogue, however I really like the allium and so they’ve been O.Ok. for the previous few years coming again. However typically even these don’t as a result of they’re crowded out or one thing. They usually have foliage, slightly bit earlier than the flower and the foliage then turns yellow. However I don’t even see it as a result of I’ve planted them amongst different issues. And possibly that’s why they diminish in quantity as a result of they’re slightly crowded. I really like the best way they pop up. I don’t get the enormous tall ones. They’re simply too outer … Nicely, I used to be going to say they’re outer spacey, however these low massive ones are outer spacey. And I like them for that. They’re Star Trek and so they dry so effectively.
Margaret: I used to have extra of the, which one is it that has the actually fireworks wanting? I’m going to simply clean on the title.
Ken: As am I.
Margaret: And I additionally love karataviense… Oh, schubertii. Allium schubertii, that appears like fireworks. I used to like to dry the flowerheads additionally. They make nice dried flowers. They usually peter out ultimately. And karataviense, which has lovely glaucous low blue leaves and pale pink globes lowish to the bottom. I really like each of these, however I don’t discover that they final without end. So I may be changing a few of these. The little yellow Allium moly [above], did you ever develop that?
Ken: Yeah, that didn’t come again effectively both, really.
Margaret: Yeah, I had it for a few years, however then it lastly additionally was misplaced. In order that’s one which I’m pondering, it’s simply so cheerful to have one thing identical to the little Narcissus, slightly miniature Narcissus and so forth, that entrance of the border or slightly burst of vibrant yellow when spring’s simply approaching, it’s simply such a cheerful colour and goes with what’s happening in springtime. In order that’s one other one which I’m pondering of.
Ken: These are all some issues that we love, and possibly want to exchange or have extra of as a result of they did effectively. And also you and I are each loopy for one thing that must be planted within the fall, that are martagon lilies.
Margaret: Proper. Which animals will eat [laughter]. However the martagon lilies are lovely, European and extra pure wanting. Pendant, drooping; the flowers dangle down. [Below, martagon lily ‘Claude Shride.’]
Ken: Yeah. Little Turk’s cap flowers and lengthy, tall stems.
Margaret: Yeah, actually fairly.
Ken: Very tall, like 3 ft a minimum of.
Margaret: Another issues that animals simply don’t eat, if persons are , the glory of the snow, the Chionodoxa; the Spanish bluebells, Hyacinthoides; Muscari is meant to be fairly animal-resistant. Not absolutely, however Siberian squill, the Scilla siberica; Camassia; Fritillaria; the Eremurus, the foxtail lilies—have you ever ever grown any of these? Some may be 5 ft tall. These are unimaginable. I wish to strive these, the foxtail lilies.
Ken: I attempted these and so they didn’t work for me.
Margaret: I need to strive once more. I haven’t tried them in a few years and I simply need to strive once more. As a result of they’re simply so dramatic, so enjoyable. So we’ll see. I would simply purchase a number of, like three or 5 or one thing [laughter]. And the trout lilies, Erythronium, they’re animal-resistant and native as effectively. There’s varied native ones across the nation.
Ken: You talked about camassias. I believe there’s 4 or 5 North American species.
Margaret: Sure. And a variety of them are Western, west of the Cascade Mountains.
Ken: Yeah, Pacific Northwestern.
Margaret: So yeah, I believe there’s one which’s from California, the Sierra Nevadas, and so forth. And there’s a quantity, a few species a minimum of. However there may be one, I believe it’s scilloides, that’s South Carolina to components of Texas. And it goes up into western Pennsylvania and even into I believe Wisconsin and Kansas within the Midwest and I believe into Ontario. In order that’s an attention-grabbing one. It’s the one one which’s extra Japanese, I believe among the many three or 4 or nonetheless many natives there are. So once more, not native all over the place and never significantly the place we’re, however nonetheless enjoyable to have a look at.
Ken: They usually have blue flowers.
Margaret: Sure, I believe so. I believe so.
Ken: I believe all of them have from mild blue to darkish blue that there’s a white one, ‘Sacajawea.’ It’s a collection of leichtlinii, I believe. Camassia leichtlinii.
Margaret: Leichtlinii [left], yeah, that’s a western one. Yeah. We need to save a while for dividing narcissus on the finish. However talking of natives, I like to look on the web site of the Pacific Bulb Society, pacificbulbsociety.org. That has nice bulb references for any use, but it surely additionally talks about natives. In order that’s one enjoyable reference for individuals.
And by way of native bulbs, the Erythronium, the trout lilies that we talked about, there’s a pair species of these, a white-flowered one. They’re actually Japanese a part of the nation, Japanese half or two-thirds of the nation. There’s a Western species and one even particular to California. So price wanting into, an Erythronium is, for those who’re into native crops and also you need to add some minor bulbs to your backyard.
And there’s once more, the Northwest actually appears to have some nice ones, some beautiful little bulbs. They’re all associated to one another, I believe, like Calochortus and Brodiaea and the Dichelostemma—there’s one which’s referred to as the firecracker flower that’s crimson and yellow, with yellow lips [below; photo by Dinkum from WIkimedia Commons]. That’s only a fantastic… a cut-flower farmer buddy of mine grows that as slightly tiny, fantastic cut-flower addition to smaller bouquets. And it’s simply fabulous. So once more, not native the place I’m, however native to america. So some potentialities. However I need to ask you concerning the dividing.
Ken: I used to be simply going to say crucial factor is to know the place the bulbs are. Sadly, with that massive patch that I’m going to be engaged on any minute now of the Narcissus pseudonarcissus species, wild species, I do know the place they’re as a result of they’re underneath the tree and there’s an enormous patch. However for those who don’t mark these daffodils to dig up and divide now earlier than they actually begin making numerous roots, you then’re in hassle.
Margaret: Nicely, proper now, we couldn’t inform the place they had been as a result of they haven’t any foliage.
Ken: Proper.
Margaret: So we now have to go on reminiscence or photos, such as you had been good to take photos.
Ken: Or tags.
Margaret: Proper. And tags and so forth.
Ken: Tags, for those who’re fortunate sufficient that no person steals them.
Margaret: However would this be the time while you would divide them? Once they’re-
Ken: Yeah.
Margaret: So at bulb-planting time, so to talk, you’ll additionally harvest a few of your individual and transfer them round?
Ken: A few of them may need some roots, simply quick roots, however that’s O.Ok. So I’d dig them up, and for those who’ve ever even bought a daffodil that they often name them noses, that has greater than one-
Margaret: Double-nosed?
Ken: Yeah. Which can be hooked up to one another, you may pry these aside, and while you dig up yours, and if they’ve a number of bulbs caught collectively, you may pry these aside. However I often, I’ll dig them up and it appears to be like like one daffodil and it seems it’s six. So I simply dig them up with a backyard fork, pry them aside. You’ll be able to allow them to dry if it is advisable to, or simply replant them immediately. And typically, frankly, they might relaxation a yr and never offer you an enormous present. However after that, the second yr, they actually go gangbusters. And in case your daffodils are slowing down, digging them up and dividing them is one option to get them going once more. And also you’ll have… When you have 10, you’ll have 100.
Margaret: Yeah. As a result of a whole lot of those that I planted after I first bought right here, they’re in rather more shade than they had been as a result of the woody crops adjoining have grown rather a lot, like what you had been speaking about earlier. They usually must be rescued, or clearly they’re not doing anyone any hurt, it’s simply that they’re not performing, actually. They ship up greenery within the spring, and I let that absolutely develop and ripen. And often round July 4th, I rake it off, clear up round them after they absolutely have withered, the foliage has withered. However I’m not getting the flowers like I did years in the past, to the diploma that I did years in the past. So yeah, I positively want to try this. I could do an experimental clump or two and see the way it goes.
Ken: It should make them happier.
Margaret: Yeah. And the factor is, you’re going to pierce some bulbs since you’re not going to know the place precisely they’re for those who didn’t mark them after they had all their foliage. I imply for those who didn’t mark the perimeter precisely, have you learnt what I imply? And that’s O.Ok.
Ken: It might not kill them really.
Margaret: Proper. And we simply should be O.Ok. about that, as a result of it’s for the higher good, proper? [Laughter.]
Ken: Perhaps go sluggish. And also you talked about cleansing up in July. We’re saying divide them now, however you may divide them after they’re dormant, actually beginning in July, I’d say. However that is the tip of the time you may dig them up and divide them, as you stated, the time you bought dormant bulbs.
Margaret: Proper. So within the final minute or so, inform me, is there the rest in your wishlist that I’m paying for now? [Laughter.] Is there the rest we didn’t point out or that you simply’re getting extra of otherwise you haven’t had earlier than?
Ken: Nicely, the tripedale, I’m going to get that.
Margaret: You’re going to maintain calling it tripedale?
Ken: It’s such a pleasant title.
Margaret: However I don’t know. You’re proper. Who is aware of?
Ken: After all you’re proper. Why wouldn’t you name it tripedale? That seems like a avenue in London or one thing. I can’t imagine it. That’s loopy. [Laughter.]
Margaret: So that you’re going to get extra of that. You’re going to get that.
Ken: Oh, only one extra possibly. Normally you need … That’s one factor to say, purchase sufficient.
Margaret: Proper. Don’t skimp.
Ken: However within the case of the tripedale, it’s so spectacular. You’ll be able to have only a couple. And it’s tall and it’s an enormous present and it’s lovely and it’s even lovely reduce. However you talked about Brodiaea, which I believe modified its title to Triteleia.
Margaret: Yeah. Triteleia, yeah.
Ken: Oh, see I’m mispronouncing issues.
Margaret: No, I believe it both approach. It doesn’t matter. Once more, it doesn’t matter.
Ken: Nicely, the Brodiaea, I had that for years, and it has blue flowers, blooms slightly late within the spring, and it’s simply simple and dependable till you set a paving stone on high of it, which is somebody who shall stay anonymous, as a result of we’re doing-
Margaret: Paved it.
Ken: … slightly development, it bought a paving stone. And it could come again subsequent yr, however I believe I ought to get extra of these, as a result of they did very well. That’s one factor, for those who bought one thing that’s finished actually well-
Margaret: Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Ken: … possibly get some extra repeat.
Margaret: Yeah. All proper, effectively no paving stones in your bulbs, all people, however go order some bulbs, all people. In order that’s our message immediately, our twin message [laughter]. Thanks Ken for making time. And I’ve a sense I’m having a purchasing binge slightly later after we dangle up.
Ken: Harmful.
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MY WEEKLY public-radio present, rated a “top-5 backyard podcast” by “The Guardian” newspaper within the UK, started its fifteenth yr in March 2024. It’s produced at Robin Hood Radio, the smallest NPR station within the nation. Pay attention regionally within the Hudson Valley (NY)-Berkshires (MA)-Litchfield Hills (CT) Mondays at 8:30 AM Japanese, rerun at 8:30 Saturdays. Or play the Aug. 26, 2024 present utilizing the participant close to the highest of this transcript. You’ll be able to subscribe to all future editions on iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify (and browse my archive of podcasts right here).