DAFFODILS - So many choices for naturalizing

Daffodils are one of my favorite spring bulbs for many reasons:  Many of them naturalize well in the garden, their nodding blooms are one of the first to bloom in spring, there are many different varieties to choose from, they are extremely hardy, and, a very important reason for me--deer don't bother them!

This week's arrangement features 10 of my favorites:

(From top, in order)  Tahiti, Las Vegas, Ice King, Pink Charm, King Alfred, Chromacolor, Snow Frills, Flower Drift, Blonde Beauty, and Replete. All are 16-20" tall and provide early to mid-spring blooms.

Paired with rosy blooms from the thick stalks of Heart Leaf Bergenia, this spring arrangement will last a week. Cut blooms in the early morning before the sun comes out, and plunge in treated water before arranging. Keep arrangements out of direct sunlight and drafts. 

Spring has definitely arrived when the daffodils are in bloom!

DAFFODILS, FORSYTHIA & APRICOT BLOSSOMS--The 2017 spring garden blooms begin

Spring is here in the gardens. With warmer temperatures in early March, many spring flowering bulbs are blooming. However, with recent cold, rainy, and even snow, March is definitely going out like a lion here in zone 6. 

This arrangement started out small, but the explosion of blooming daffodils was quite a surprise!  The apricot blossoms and forsythia are almost hidden by the yellow masses of daffodils.

I didn't realize just how large this new variety of daffodil would be in bloom, and the arrangement had far too many daffodils in it. That's good to know for future arrangements. The blooms were fully open in one day. 

As always, choose blooms in the bud stage, use a floral preservative, and keep arrangements out of direct sunlight and drafts for longevity. This arrangement will last a week or more.

SPRING TULIPS, DAFFODILS AND EARLY TREE PEONIES -- Perfect for colorful arrangements

Blooms that were available for the April 5th arrangement were some of my favorite single Triumph tulips-- Bright, dark rose, 24" 'Don Quichotte' and 26" bright yellow 'Big Smile.' My earliest tree peony, 'Sugared Silk,' with it's light pinkish buds open up to huge, white, silk-looking blooms with dark centers. Daffodil 'Mount Hood' a large, pure white award-winner with a lacy cup, and has long lasting blooms. Double daffodil 'Ice King' has a ruffled white petals and a fully double sulfur-yellow cup with white highlights. The flower container was a fun find at a local thrift store for 50 cents. I frequent the thrift stores to check out vases and have found some very nice finds. As always, cut flowers after the sun is down, or before it comes up.  Use a floral preservative, and cut stems on an angle for maximum water absorption.  This arrangement will last a week to 10 days.

DAFFODILS -- One of the First Signs of Spring

The 2015 arrangements started on March 30th.  Spring was a strange season here in zone 5a, and the plants were a little confused. First, we had drought conditions with no moisture from September until Christmas Day, with our first snowstorm of the year. Then we experienced more dry and unseasonably warm temperatures that signaled the plants to grow.  After that, some days of freezing temperatures nipped many of the perennials that had started to bud out and it affected their bloom.  I noticed the bulb flowers (hyacinths, tulips and daffodils) weren't as tall or strong-stemmed--some didn't even leaf out.

This arrangement of daffodils had 15 different types--large and small cupped, pinks, yellows, whites, shrimp-colored ones, laced perianths, reverse colored, bi-colored and doubles.

SPRING BLOOMS

Spring is one of my favorite times of the year in the garden.