HAVE YOU DONE your bulb procuring but? It’s ordering time each for fall-blooming treats like Colchicum, which you’ll solely purchase now when you 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 not have and wish to replenish, or of ones we now have however wish to add extra to enhance the visible impression, and in addition some new-to-us goodies. Plus, we talked about when and find out how to divide these Narcissus that is likely to be blooming much less lustily than they used to after a few years within the floor.
Ken is a longtime good friend and the writer of 20 backyard books who gardens in New Jersey, and he’s my co-host a number of occasions a 12 months in our Digital Backyard Membership sequence of on-line lessons. His in depth gardens are loaded with distinctive crops, together with a variety of bulbs (we each love martagon lilies, as an example, like those at Ken’s, above).
Learn alongside as you hearken to the Aug. 26, 2024 version of my public-radio present and podcast utilizing the participant under. 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 procuring 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 pieces 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 12 months, I took photos particularly to recollect I wish to purchase that, or I want I had that, or I want extra of that. So I truly had a photographic record.
Margaret: Oh, that’s a fantastic thought truly, as a result of in sure areas, within the entrance of beds or borders, I may need a couple of remaining of some little treasure that I had much more of years in the past, however the mattress’s gotten a little bit wider and different issues in it have gotten larger, and the bulbs have perhaps diminished. If I had taken an image, I’d know precisely the place [laughter] and what now, yeah.
Ken: Properly, 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, nicely, it’s in William Robinson’s ebook about wild gardening, and it’s in Wordsworth’s poem, “I wandered lonely as a cloud, beside the lake beneath the bushes, 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 12 months, 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.Okay., however I planted it beneath a sapling of a weeping Katsura, which is now a big tree. Though 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 a little bit extra. But in addition I want to maneuver a few of it to a sunnier spot.
Margaret: Yeah, and even what you have been saying concerning the sapling became an enormous tree, even root competitors can simply be this unseen one thing that’s outpacing the wants of the bulbs which might be among the many huge roots now, when it comes to for vitamins and moisture and no matter. Yeah.
Properly, we’re going to speak about dividing for positive. I feel first, let’s do some digital procuring or lusting after issues. Whenever you bought to your house, while you guys began making the backyard there: What number of years do you’ve gotten that home now?
Ken: About 30 years.
Margaret: Yeah. I’m even a little bit longer than that the place I’m. Have been there bulbs while you bought there? Have been there any that you just bear 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 12 months 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 multitude, however Lycoris [below], generally referred to as bare girls, 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 couple of years after which they disappeared as a result of earlier than we raised the wall a little bit bit, as you realize we had floods, and loads of issues didn’t make it by means of, 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 a number of floods twice a 12 months no less than. And loads of crops don’t like that.
Margaret: Proper. Properly, particularly bulbs that they wish to have normally a dry relaxation interval throughout their dormancy. They don’t wish to rot throughout that point. It’s fascinating that you just 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 already know what I imply? A lot of the 12 months 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 realize what I imply? [Photo above by Namazu-tron on Wikimedia Commons.]
Ken: I do.
Margaret: So it’s a shock. And so they’re simply so robust apparently, besides after they stay subsequent to a river that floods [laughter]. So I didn’t plant them. And they also’ve bought to be no less than 35-plus years outdated and who is aware of. So it’s great, and pink is just not one thing I’d’ve chosen, nevertheless it makes me glad. I simply chortle each time: Up they arrive and there they go, and I take pleasure in them. And it’s in August normally, so enjoyable. I used to be simply saying-
Ken: It’s like, sorry, you talked about that you just 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 huge thick leaves and so they’re in the best way.
Margaret: Proper. So that they do. And so Colchicum, though we name them autumn crocus, they’re not a crocus. They do appear to be an enormous crocus, however they’re not. Crocus are within the iris household, Colchicum are within the lily household. So that they’re totally different although they give the impression of being the identical, which tells you why we shouldn’t use widespread names, although we will’t pronounce the Latin ones more often than not [laughter]. And so they’re each corms, not bulbs, so that they’re simply confused, besides they’ve this very totally different behavior. You get loads of huge 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 instantly, any day now at my place, I feel any day now, subsequent week, month, no matter, I’m going to begin seeing these purple or white crocus-like flowers, however the flowers have extra petals or regardless of the elements 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. And so they’re great 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: Properly, the massive trick I feel, or the factor to consider horticulturally, is what you plant them subsequent to or with since you need perhaps hostas or one thing that comes up late within the spring since you wish to disguise that foliage. It’s not the nicest foliage.
Margaret: Within the, yeah. And it’s, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly loads of foliage.
Ken: Proper.
Margaret: And that’s one that you could solely plant it within the early fall. You’ll be able to solely plant it or get it, get them organized, round this time of 12 months. And I noticed loads 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 must do it summer time or proper now on the newest in an effort to make the most of their season. They’re not one thing that’s bought afterward.
Ken: Proper. And I did [laughter]. That’s the factor.
Margaret: Yeah. Oh, so now you’re charging me for that. O.Okay. Put it on my invoice.
Ken: I’ve some double white ones coming, I feel.
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’ve gotten one factor that you just’d similar to to shortly title as your greatest bulb of success, one that you just 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 glad, they self-sow themselves significantly better than while you plant the bulbs. The success fee from these self-sowns is simply so significantly 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 puzzled when you had one that you just assume, “Oh, we’ve finished very well with these.”
Ken: Properly, 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. Properly, they’re simply glad all by themselves.
Margaret: They’re. That’s a enjoyable one.
Ken: Generally pop up within the place you didn’t know, as a result of this can be a shady place. They don’t normally 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’m wondering 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.Okay. It doesn’t matter. It wasn’t a spoken language, botanical Latin, proper?
Ken: These individuals are useless, all these people. Have you ever ever seen that Nectaroscordum?
Margaret: Sure.
Ken: It’s attractive. Oh my gosh.
Margaret: Proper. Stunning. O.Okay., 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 nicely with as a result of they’re similar to sweet for all of the animals.
Ken: And there’s a number of, there’s truly fairly a couple of fall-blooming crocus.
Margaret: Oh, and do you’ve gotten any of these? Are you rising any of these?
Ken: Properly, I do now [laughter].
Margaret: Uh-oh, he’s procuring of us. Uh-oh.
Ken: I all the time wished to develop Crocus speciosus [above, at Ken’s], which is bluish and blooms within the fall, and I by no means have, however I will probably be this 12 months and I feel I’m going to strive Sternbergia. Sternbergia lutea. I feel that’s referred to as autumn daffodil. It’s a standard title I feel, nevertheless it has yellow flowers. Appears to be like like a crocus. And that’s one other fall-blooming. So that you’ve bought me into this entire fall blooming factor.
Margaret: Oh, fascinating. O.Okay. 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 essentially the most animal-resistant and so they have been a catastrophe additionally, for me. However usually talking, these will do higher. I simply have loads 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 feel 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 members.
Ken: The Allium. Properly, I additionally purchased, I did this not due to you truly, due to our dialogue, however I like the allium and so they’ve been O.Okay. for the previous few years coming again. However generally even these don’t as a result of they’re crowded out or one thing. And so they have foliage, a little bit 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 perhaps that’s why they diminish in quantity as a result of they’re a little bit crowded. I like the best way they pop up. I don’t get the large tall ones. They’re simply too outer … Properly, I used to be going to say they’re outer spacey, however these low huge ones are outer spacey. And I like them for that. They’re Star Trek and so they dry so nicely.
Margaret: I used to have extra of the, which one is it that has the actually fireworks trying? I’m going to only 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. And so they peter out finally. And karataviense, which has lovely glaucous low blue leaves and pale pink globes lowish to the bottom. I like each of these, however I don’t discover that they final perpetually. So I is likely to be changing a few of these. The little yellow Allium moly [above], did you ever develop that?
Ken: Yeah, that didn’t come again nicely both, truly.
Margaret: Yeah, I had it for a few years, however then it lastly additionally was misplaced. In order that’s one which I’m considering, it’s simply so cheerful to have one thing similar to the little Narcissus, a little bit miniature Narcissus and so forth, that entrance of the border or a little bit burst of shiny yellow when spring’s simply approaching, it’s simply such a cheerful shade and goes with what’s occurring in springtime. In order that’s one other one which I’m considering of.
Ken: These are all some issues that we love, and perhaps want to interchange or have extra of as a result of they did nicely. 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 trying. 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 no less than.
Margaret: Another issues that animals simply don’t eat, if individuals are , the glory of the snow, the Chionodoxa; the Spanish bluebells, Hyacinthoides; Muscari is meant to be fairly animal-resistant. Not totally, 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 wish to strive once more. I haven’t tried them in a few years and I simply wish to strive once more. As a result of they’re simply so dramatic, so enjoyable. So we’ll see. I would simply purchase a couple of, like three or 5 or one thing [laughter]. And the trout lilies, Erythronium, they’re animal-resistant and native as nicely. There’s numerous native ones across the nation.
Ken: You talked about camassias. I feel 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 feel there’s one which’s from California, the Sierra Nevadas, and so forth. And there’s a quantity, a few species no less than. However there may be one, I feel it’s scilloides, that’s South Carolina to elements of Texas. And it goes up into western Pennsylvania and even into I feel Wisconsin and Kansas within the Midwest and I feel into Ontario. In order that’s an fascinating one. It’s the one one which’s extra Japanese, I feel among the many three or 4 or nonetheless many natives there are. So once more, not native all over the place and never notably the place we’re, however nonetheless enjoyable to take a look at.
Ken: And so they have blue flowers.
Margaret: Sure, I feel so. I feel so.
Ken: I feel all of them have from gentle blue to darkish blue that there’s a white one, ‘Sacajawea.’ It’s a number of leichtlinii, I feel. Camassia leichtlinii.
Margaret: Leichtlinii [left], yeah, that’s a western one. Yeah. We wish 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, nevertheless it additionally talks about natives. In order that’s one enjoyable reference for individuals.
And when it comes to 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 value trying into, an Erythronium is, when you’re into native crops and also you wish to add some minor bulbs to your backyard.
And there’s once more, the Northwest actually appears to have some nice ones, some attractive little bulbs. They’re all associated to one another, I feel, like Calochortus and Brodiaea and the Dichelostemma—there’s one which’s referred to as the firecracker flower that’s purple and yellow, with yellow lips [below; photo by Dinkum from WIkimedia Commons]. That’s only a great… a cut-flower farmer good friend of mine grows that as a little bit tiny, great cut-flower addition to smaller bouquets. And it’s simply fabulous. So once more, not native the place I’m, however native to the USA. So some prospects. However I wish to ask you concerning the dividing.
Ken: I used to be simply going to say a very powerful factor is to know the place the bulbs are. Sadly, with that huge 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 beneath the tree and there’s an enormous patch. However when you don’t mark these daffodils to dig up and divide now earlier than they actually begin making a number of roots, you then’re in hassle.
Margaret: Properly, proper now, we couldn’t inform the place they have been as a result of they don’t have any foliage.
Ken: Proper.
Margaret: So we now have to go on reminiscence or photos, such as you have been good to take photos.
Ken: Or tags.
Margaret: Proper. And tags and so forth.
Ken: Tags, when you’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 brief roots, however that’s O.Okay. So I’d dig them up, and when you’ve ever even bought a daffodil that they generally 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 couple of bulbs caught collectively, you may pry these aside. However I normally, 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 you could, or simply replant them instantly. And generally, frankly, they might relaxation a 12 months and never offer you an enormous present. However after that, the second 12 months, 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… If in case you have 10, you’ll have 100.
Margaret: Yeah. As a result of loads of those that I planted once I first bought right here, they’re in far more shade than they have been as a result of the woody crops adjoining have grown loads, like what you have been speaking about earlier. And so they have to 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 totally develop and ripen. And normally round July 4th, I rake it off, clear up round them after they totally 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 undoubtedly want to try this. I could do an experimental clump or two and see the way it goes.
Ken: It would 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 when you didn’t mark them after they had all their foliage. I imply when you didn’t mark the perimeter precisely, are you aware what I imply? And that’s O.Okay.
Ken: It could not kill them truly.
Margaret: Proper. And we simply must be O.Okay. about that, as a result of it’s for the higher good, proper? [Laughter.]
Ken: Perhaps go gradual. 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 anything in your wishlist that I’m paying for now? [Laughter.] Is there anything we didn’t point out or that you just’re getting extra of otherwise you haven’t had earlier than?
Ken: Properly, 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: In fact you’re proper. Why wouldn’t you name it tripedale? That seems like a avenue in London or one thing. I can’t consider 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 perhaps. Often 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 feel modified its title to Triteleia.
Margaret: Yeah. Triteleia, yeah.
Ken: Oh, see I’m mispronouncing issues.
Margaret: No, I feel it both method. It doesn’t matter. Once more, it doesn’t matter.
Ken: Properly, the Brodiaea, I had that for years, and it has blue flowers, blooms a little bit late within the spring, and it’s simply straightforward and dependable till you place a paving stone on prime of it, which is somebody who shall stay anonymous, as a result of we’re doing-
Margaret: Paved it.
Ken: … a little bit building, it bought a paving stone. And it could come again subsequent 12 months, however I feel I ought to get extra of these, as a result of they did very well. That’s one factor, when you bought one thing that’s finished actually well-
Margaret: Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Ken: … perhaps get some extra repeat.
Margaret: Yeah. All proper, nicely no paving stones in your bulbs, everyone, however go order some bulbs, everyone. In order that’s our message right now, our twin message [laughter]. Thanks Ken for making time. And I’ve a sense I’m having a procuring binge a little bit 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 12 months in March 2024. It’s produced at Robin Hood Radio, the smallest NPR station within the nation. Hear domestically 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).
