Spring Momentum is Picking Up!

The 'Prinses Irene' (correct spelling) tulips are really looking nice out front. We have three circular "pockets" like this around three cobblestone patios in front of the visitors center. There are 200 tulips in each pocket that are replaced each year. We actually excavate the entire circle in October, remove old tulips (give to volunteers) and replace with a new variety that has a color that corresponds to our summer collection as well. We haven't figured out 2009 yet but are enjoying the "Monet-like pastels" of this wonderful tulip. The Bower City Garden Club hosted their annual luncheon today and it would appear that our tulips (including 'Orange Queen' seen previously) were timed perfectly for this event. Unfortunately, these will all be done by Mother's Day! Ugh. Oh well. No use fretting about it.


Another nice spring iris is blooming today. This Iris bucharica (called Juno iris) looks great with the yellow and white combination. I'm told that it's native to Afghanistan and prefers dry summer conditions. We've established it in dry areas in part sun to great effect. The emerging foliage in April is interesting and the blooms are quite showy. It hasn't lasted more than 3 years in the garden but is affordable as a bulb planted in October.


Jerry and I went to Yahara Nursery today near Edgerton. The owner, John Kiley, showed us around and we picked out a dozen nice conifer specimens (a specialty at the nursery). The "kid in a candy store" analogy is applicable here and I make no apologies. Our woody plant collections, particularly conifers, are becoming quite significant for a small garden. The challenge is not so much growing the plants but protecting them from deer and keeping them labeled/identified for future generations of staff and visitors. Plant record keeping is a full time job and we're struggling. Plants go in faster than we can keep up in terms of our records. We'll catch up some day! Image below is of pasque flower (Pulsatilla or Anemone, take your pick) in our alpine garden.