May 14, 2010

Tulips

Apricot Beauty, Single Early tulip


Each fall, I plant several varieties of tulips in a row in the vegetable garden; in spring, their flowers grace vases and pitchers in my house, adding their color to the whites and yellows of narcissus. Apricot Beauty is a favorite of mine; it is early, has a lovely color and a light grapefruity scent.


Rococo, Parrot tulip


What a spectacular flower Rococo is, with its blowsy fringed petals and rich dark red color. It's the first time I've grown this variety, and I think I will want to see it again next year.


Ballerina, Lily-Flowered Tulip


Last year, I got some Ballerina bulbs that were mislabeled as Angelique; though I was very disappointed not to have my favorite double tulip, I loved the color and shape of this flower so much that I ordered it for this spring's harvest. The orange color that dominates the flower is streaked with a rosy red for an intense show of color on pointed, out-curved petals.


Angelique, Double Late Tulip


I love the pale gentle color and frothy shape of these tulips; I believe I'm especially fond of them because they are like early peonies, my favorite flower.


Menton, Single Late Tulip


Menton is a very tall and elegant tulip, the last to bloom of my bulbs. Its shape is beautiful in all stages, as here when still a rounded form with slightly open mouth, looking like a promise.

10 comments:

  1. Wow! I like Ballerinas. What are your most reliably perennial kinds?

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  2. Seeing these was such a treat. My Mum always grew tulips but over the years the local deer began to recognized Rose's garden as a banquet table and she gave up.
    deb L
    http://morewgalo.blogspot.com/

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  3. hi Susan and Deb, as I mentioned, I plant tulips in the vegetable garden, which is a small area (compared to where my flower borders are) surrounded by electric fence to discourage animals; I plant new bulbs each fall, a treat to myself. Deer like tulips so much that, except for 3 or 4 tulips that still come up after 15 years or so (I think they are Darwin Hybrids), I don't plant them in my perennial borders; it would be asking for trouble.

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  4. Darwins, Emperors and species tulips.
    Really like how your photo of Menton plays with light & shadow and depth.

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  5. What a wonderful show of colour and so, so elegant and uplifting to gaze upon Altoon!
    Each image offers a different gesture and sense of delight - I think that lovely chair with the jug of apricot beauties really makes me sigh though! I do miss such abundance of flowers form cooler climes... esp at the sight of these.

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  6. Having these classical flower arrangements in your home must make you feel like you are living in paintings by the great Masters. A different painting each time you bring in a new bouquet. So beautiful.

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  7. Thanks for the lovely comments, Julie, Sophie and Julia. Tulips are so photogenic with their clear forms and colors; I certainly enjoy taking pictures of them, and do think of old Masters: while setting up the photo of the Menton tulips, I had in mind Spanish still life painting with its dark backgrounds. I'm now wanting an abundance of tulips and will order lots this fall.

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  8. You are lucky to have a place to grow tulips that is not in a garden bed or border. I am mostly digging mine out and trying to find a spot or two where they might work or where I could add more each fall. After watching daffodils bloom and expand each year, tulips always seem like too much trouble. But then you bring a bouquet inside and it all seems worth it. What an array of colors and effects you've been enjoying!

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  9. What a wonderful tulip post! Are those double daffs in the first picture with the Apricot Beauties? It makes such a lovely vase arrangement together.

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  10. Yes, Linda, I'm lucky to have enough garden space for cutting tulips.

    Mona, glad you like the post. Yes, those are double daffs in the Apricot Beauty picture; I don't remember their name, but they are very pretty and have a wonderful scent.

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