Bulbs

Often you may wonder, "This bulb looks really small. I didn't pay a lot for it, so I'll plant it anyway. Looks kind of dry and whimpy, too."

After a few months...nothing. No bloom, no leaves...nothing. O darn! Another disappointing spring without a new lily.

Here in lies the bottom line. When you buy bulbs, especially of the lilium species (Oriental, Asiatic, Tiger, Orienpet, Trumpet Lilies), be sure they are minimum of 14cm in circumference and healthy! (No brown spots on the scales, and no rotten potions of the scales. It should be firm to the touch...no mush or softness.) That's about the size of a lemon. Here's why: If the bulb is too small, it will rot. There is not enough outer scale protection for the new growth that will emerge from the center of the bulb to protect from 1) excessive soil moisture, 2) severe frost and more. All bulbs, regardless of where you live, should be planted a minimum of four inches deep. The larger mature varieties such as trumpet lilies require six inches depth. This aids in preventing the stem from falling over, protection from freezing, adequate drainage, and just a much stronger/healthier plant. Too often, they are planted just too darn shallow.

Coming soon, "Where to plant those georgeous wonders (lilies: I am still amazed how such a large bloom can come out of a such a small bulb) and container growing daylilies and lilies")

Meanwhile, back at the farm....

Spring Fever

Welcome Back
I am so happy to have the day light hours getting longer.
Since we all work a long day when we get home we like to enjoy seeing the yard taking shape from the cold quiet sleep of winter.

When the first bloom of the crocus tells us all that spring is really just around the corner we all
get very excited. Even thou I have found those little gentle giants of the winter threshold to sometimes come out to soon and they stand in a cold mound of snow.

I have a bird feeder out the back door and I do enjoy seeing the little birds flock to the feeder for the extra help they need for the cold weather. I tried nailing orange half's to the tree's and hoped to bring the woodpeckers close to the door for us to enjoy. Only one has been spotted to this day.

We are looking forward to the spring that will bring our lilies out of the ground and blooming for us.
Something I have found is the wonderful combination of the day lilies and oriental lilies planted together giving us an never ending bloom and green foliage for the whole summer long.
If you plant your lily garden with much fore thought you will be able to have bright beautiful colors from the early months of May to the beginning of fall.

Mean while back @ the farm

Winter Fruit Tree Treatments

Greetings! The snow is melting here and it's time to start thinking about pruning and spraying your fruit trees, if you haven't done so already. I know, a lot of you are considering a long, extended vacation to someplace warm, with white sandy beaches, and someone to serve you a nice cocktail 24-7, breakfast in bed, or... When do we leave?

Dormant sprays consist of a dormant oil and lime sulfur (phew! it really smells) or copper. The latter is my choice since there is no smell, other plants treated with this mix will not get burned, and you can accomplish the same results. There are a multitude of plants and trees that should also have this spray applied to them...not just fruit trees.

Your trimming should be finished by the end of February. If you trim after the buds have emerged with new leaves, you can damage the trees and very little fruit will be produced. All deciduous trees should be trimmed during the winter months.

Planted any new bulbs yet, or are they still in the package, hmmmm?

Cold Weather

Hello fellow gardeners and Happy New Year!!!!!!

Recently I've been asked questions regarding the cold and snowy weather and how it will impact new and old bulbs planted, especially lilies.

As long as they were planted 6 inches deep (which is what I recommend regardless of where you live), then you will be OK for the up coming Spring sprouting excitement. Most lilies are quite hardy and will tolerate extreme temps as low as -10 degrees if planted deep enough. I remember one time I was getting ice for a soda drink and accidentally set three bulbs in the ice compartment of the freezer while filling my glass with ice. (Kind of like A PACK RAT - you know, take something and replace it with something else idea). The bulbs are a variety that blooms the first week of May and being new guy's, I was excited to see the blooms. First week of May, nothing. Second and third week....still nothing. Well, upon opening the freezer in June to pull out my favorite steak for a little barbie, there they were! Still firm and healthy like the first day they were lost into a deep slumber in the "deep freeze". I thought, "boy, these will NEVER survive!" So, I planted them the day I located the lost rascals in a whiskey barrel in full sun and sure enough...they grew like crazy but did not bloom until the following Spring.

I figured they were in the comatose state of sleep for about four and a half months.

Bottom line? Lillie's are one of the most hardy plants you can have in your garden!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...