Are you having fun in your garden? Right now, I’m enjoying my garden because it’s raining and my garden could use some rain, as could many gardens. If you need rain, I hope you are getting some.
Yesterday, we set a new record high when the temperature climbed to 92 degrees, breaking the 1891 record of 91 degrees. We don’t need any more of that nonsense. Now that the calendar says “Autumn”, we need cooler temperatures, brilliantly colored fall foliage, asters blooming, and time for garden clean up and bulb planting.
I’ve already planted some Colchicum bulbs (actually corms) sent to me by Kathy at Cold Climate Gardening. They haven’t come up yet, but I’m still hopeful I’ll get some bloom from them yet this fall. If not, I’m sure to see the foliage in the spring. Did you see that Kathy wrote the article ‘Colchicums – Autumn’s Best-Kept Secret’ published in the September-October 2007 edition of The American Gardener, published by the American Horticultural Society? It’s the main article featured on the cover! Congratulations, Kathy!
Awhile back I was looking around the web site of the American Horticultural Society to see what else I get as a member besides The American Gardener magazine and found out that they occasionally host webinars on different topics. Webinars? I’m in! So I signed up for and participated in today’s webinar, “Bulbs That Work” with Allan Armitage.
I enjoyed being reminded of some of the lesser-known bulbs, some of which I have in my garden, and others that I don’t. Those that I don’t have I now want, so I’ll be looking at some on line catalogs to place an order or two as soon as I can. Why should I experience one more spring without some of the early flowering bulbs I don’t have like Iris danfordiae (Danford iris), Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite), and Anemone coronaria (poppy anemone)?
I noted that Professor Armitage said several times during the webinar“have fun”. I like to follow the advice of the experts, so I’m going to have some fun planting some of the early flowering spring bulbs in my garden this fall and then renew my fun when they bloom early in the spring.
Was anyone else on the webinar?
(The picture above is of some Crocus blooming earlier this spring in my garden)
I had one ear on the webinar from work today. Alan’s lack of pretension coupled with his expertise is an unbeatable combination.
BTW: Kathy sent me colchicums too. Mine came up over the weekend: http://www.remarc.com/craig/?p=253
Carol, we’ve had a couple of rain showers today, I hear it raining right now too. We sure needed it. I’ve tried to work in the yard some but it has been too hot and the mosquitoes are terrible right now. I did do a little cleaning up in the flower beds today. I’ve been looking at those spring bulbs too. I’m ready for cooler weather so I can get a few things done before winter sets in.
It was raining in south Florida today!!! YEAH! Love your pretty little crocus’.
Julie
The webinar sounds like it was informative as well as fun!
I have Grecian windflowers (anemones) on my kitchen table RIGHT NOW bulbs waiting for me to plant them. I already have purple ones in one garden and they are among the first flowers in my gardens in spring. Now I’ll have more. YAY!
We can compare photos next spring. 😉
I just stumbled upon your blog and I must say WOW! How I’ve enjoyed reading through your posts.
I have had “dirt under my nails” since I was just a very young girl.
You will definetely be on my read list!
Linda
Hi again, Carol
Funnily enough I was planting tulip bulbs yesterday – in good time for a change too!
We are now seeing evenings colder and have had our heating on for a short while tonight. The leaves are just begining to turn here too 🙂
I didn’t know AHS offered webinars! I’ll have to check that out! Thanks for telling us about them.
I’ve not had good luck with Anemone coronaria. The one time they came up, they were sparse and didn’t bloom. 🙁