Done and done

Those of you concerned about my bulb problem (as well you should be) will be glad to know that the inside work is almost done. I have about 40 hyacinths and a few pots of tulips stashed in the root cellar, as you see above. There are also 3 containers of tazettas that Old House Gardens tells me will want 2-3 weeks in a cold, dark place before resuming their development in a similar fashion as the more common paperwhites (such as Ziva, et al). I must say these few tazettas interest me the most (so few because they are so EXPENSIVE).

The Zivas grow quickly and are probably the most floriferous of the tazetta family, but their smell is kind of unpleasant (your mileage may vary here). Or perhaps it’s that they’re just too easy. Last year, I gave a friend a pot of Grand Soleil d’Or and she sent me images of them when they finally bloomed, at least 6-8 weeks later. Well worth the wait, I’d say.

This is from the Brent and Becky's website, but hers looked exactly like these.

So this year I am selfishly keeping all (or most) of the Grand Soleil for myself as well as trying some Early Pearl and Grand Primo from OHG. They offer them as good narcissus varieties for Southern gardeners who might have trouble growing the usual ones outside. Like Michele, I’m not that excited about outdoor narcissus—their foliage goes on for months and their return is unreliable without full sun. I do admire them in large drifts in public areas.

Alternative varieties for forcing, however, offer a challenge and something to fuss over in the winter. Others must agree; I see that all the OHG tazettas are sold out.

Comments

[Amy Stewart]

Just testing the comments.

[chuck b.]

I have those purple pots too.

[chuck b.]

PS Giddiness radiates from this post.

[firefly]

Love those pots. Great color while you're waiting for the bulbs to sprout.

I, however, would be so anal retentive as to spend hours matching (or contrasting) bloom color and pot color so it would take me three days to get everything done.

Sigh.

[eliz]

They do kind of match and contrast.

The blue and purple pots have cream/yellow hyacinths.

The light green ones have dark purple.

With the glasses it does not much matter.