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    Cottage garden tulips


    May 5th, 2018 - Popular posts, Pots and containers, Spring gardening

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    After my slightly negative blog last weekend, here are my tulips from last May reminding me that it is always worth the effort.  I’m awaiting the autumn catalogues any minute now and will be planning on what tulips to get for next year!

    First here is an overall pic of the front

    London cottage garden

    Front garden path

    and here is the back.

    Cottage garden plants

    Back garden this weekend

    Both have tulips in the borders and in pots.

    Now for 6 of the many that have survived wind, rain and hailstones.

    Species tulip Little Beauty

    Tulip hageri “Little Beauty”

    This is a tiny species tulip, meaning an old type growing naturally in the wild.  They are small and spindly but beautiful and should increase over the years if left in the ground.

    Parrott tulip

    Apricot Parrot tulip (I think)

    This is a parrot tulip.  I had several varieties and am not sure which one is which. They’re huge, exotic and feel rubbery.  Best grown in a pot.

    tulips

    This is Artist, from Sarah Raven

    If I plant 10 in a pot I can cut 2 for a vase and still have a pot of 8.

    tulips in cottage gardens

    Merlot is a wine glass shape and pinky purple

    Tulips don’t reliably flower again next year so I treat them as an annual display and pull them out when they’re over.  I give healthy bulbs to other people and bin the mushy ones.

    You can buy relatively cheaply from wholesalers such as Peter Nyssen, Gee Tee Bulbs,  and  JParkers.  More expensive are Sarah Raven, Bloms and Avon bulbs among others.

    Peony flowered tulip

    Peony flowered tulip Orange Princess

    Orange Princess flowers are like peonies and look fabulous in a vase.

    Lastly here is the incredibly popular lily flowered tulip Ballerina.  These have kept going better than most others in the garden. They shine in the sun and they smell of orange sherbet.  They are popular for a very good reason and are cheap to buy in bulk.

    Tulips in a cottage garden

    Lily flowered tulip Ballerina

    I recommend buying mail order as the best way to choose and buy. See my previous post here

     

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    14 comments on "Cottage garden tulips"

    1. Colin says:
      5th May 2018 at 3:46 pm

      Looks Fantastic!

      Reply
      1. Julie Quinn says:
        5th May 2018 at 3:51 pm

        Thanks Colin I really appreciate your opinion. Hedge looking lovely and green by the way.

        Reply
    2. Ali, The Mindful Gardener says:
      5th May 2018 at 4:29 pm

      Fabulous. I think we share the same taste in tulips. Yes, that does look like ‘Apricot Parrot’. ‘Merlot’ is one I always lust after. I do love the overall look of your garden. Lovely colours.

      Reply
      1. Julie Quinn says:
        5th May 2018 at 4:40 pm

        Thanks so much Ali, and I like the idea of Jazz tulip you listed. Reality is though that the parrot tulips couldn’t hold themselves up in their pots. Heads too heavy so I am thinking twice about using them next year. They look fab in vases though and I put a lot on Instagram. Best wishes.

        Reply
    3. Fred says:
      5th May 2018 at 8:22 pm

      Very nice pictures as usual Julie! We can see the evolution from an old post of Six on Saturday … the vegetation has grown, the flowers are numerous. Very pretty colors!

      Reply
      1. Julie Quinn says:
        6th May 2018 at 5:55 am

        Merci Fred, thankyou for your comment about my colours. I guess I go for orange, purple red and blue.

        Reply
    4. Mala S. Burt says:
      5th May 2018 at 9:41 pm

      Orange Princess will be on my “to order” list this fall. Gorgeous photos.

      Reply
      1. Julie Quinn says:
        6th May 2018 at 5:54 am

        The heads are so heavy they are in danger of snapping off, that’s why I cut them so short but if you have the space it is worth growing a few just for a week or two of fabulousness.

        Reply
    5. @cavershamjj says:
      5th May 2018 at 10:13 pm

      Lovely tulips. I can’t bear to bin them so will store them and cross my fingers and hope some pop up next year.

      Reply
      1. Julie Quinn says:
        6th May 2018 at 5:53 am

        Thankyou Jon, yes I am feeling silly about losing them so this year I have decided to leave those in the borders just where they are and give them a chance. I read that lily flowered ones repeat better than others so my fingers are crossed too.

        Reply
    6. Jane says:
      6th May 2018 at 3:13 am

      Your back garden is just so gorgeously leafy and lush. And the artist tulip is amazing looks quite unusual to me and very appropriately named.

      Reply
      1. Julie Quinn says:
        6th May 2018 at 5:51 am

        Thank you so much Jane for commenting. Yes lush really is the word, with everything holding everything else up till it all collapses in mid summer and I cut it all down to come up again. Best wishes. Julie

        Reply
    7. The Quilting Gardener says:
      6th May 2018 at 3:12 pm

      Your garden looks fabulous. I find I can never rely on tulips making a repeat showing, even if planted deep.

      Reply
      1. Julie Quinn says:
        6th May 2018 at 5:15 pm

        Thankyou so much. Looks like you are new to blogging so I am following you and look forward to hearing more. Where in the country or world are you? I agree about tulips.

        Reply

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