After all the beautiful tulips I saw at Harlow Carr recently, which you can see in my last post, I thought I'd show you the tulips I grew in a container this year.
This was the first bud I noticed back in the middle of April. I get so excited at this point thinking of what's to come.
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It was soon after that I noticed a yellow bud which reminded me that I'd planted tulips in a variety of colours this time. I usually stick to just one or two colours in a container.
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The variety I'd gone for was Triumph and the packet included a mix of colours from the very darkest purple through reds, yellows and pinks to the purest white. When I remembered this I looked forward to seeing the combination of colours all blooming together.
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I was a little let down once they bloomed. They were beautiful blooms but I ended up with reds, yellows and something in between, there wasn't a single dark one or white one amongst them. No pinks either.
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Not a bad display for a pound though.
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Some were a mix of red and yellow.
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I can never resist taking close ups of the inside of tulips, they remind me of a kaleidoscope.
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They've been planted in the front garden now where I hope they'll flower again next year. I think if I want a mixture in future, I should buy the single colours and mix them myself.
I love the inside of tulips too J. Fascinating.
ReplyDeleteJust imagine if you were a bee :)
I understand your disappointment. I think us gardeners imagine how things are going to turn out. When it does not go to plan, we are often disappointed. Don't be, they are beautiful, colourful and full of cheer. I would think they have brought many a smile to those that pass your garden :)
Have a lovely weekend.........
You can see why bees are attracted to flowers. I'm pleased with the display overall, just disappointed with the selection included. I shall definitely have to put my own colours together next time, the dispalys at Harlow Carr have given me a lot of inspiration.
DeleteThey're certainly a colourful selection. I didn't grow any this year but will again next year. As you show the insides are well worth taking a close look at. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteThey're very colourful, you couldn't miss them. I didn't grow tulips last year and I really missed them so I was determined to plant some this time. I find I look much closer at things when I'm looking through a viewfinder.
DeleteMmmmm I've found that the results don't always live up to the packet photos when it comes to Wilkos bulbs Jo. Still you have a bargain bright splash of colour. Their innards are fascinating close up. A kaleidoscope is a great comparison :)
ReplyDeleteI shouldn't really complain for the price. I think Wilko's are great for a cheap and cheerful display but you're right, they're often not reliable so perhaps it's better to buy from a specialised bulb seller if you're wanting something specific. The insides make for great photos, lots of different effects when taken close up.
DeleteYour tulips are lovely, I will plant some in pots later this year, I have planted in the ground, but they never flower.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. I tend to always plant my bulbs in containers when they're new, they give a lovely display and can be moved about but once they've finished blooming I plant them in the ground and more often than not they go on flowering in subsequent years.
DeleteI generally don't go for mixed packets, even when it comes to seeds, for that very reason...you never know what you will (or won't get), especially if you aren't growing very many plants. Even so, the ones you did get are lovely - they are making quite the display!
ReplyDeleteI'm SO looking forward to my front garden tulips opening. I see buds on all of them now and am thrilled - last year about 1/3 of them didn't flower and when I looked this up, apparently some varieties flower once and then that's it. After all the work planting them (I planted 60 bulbs!), that would be very disappointing.
I think it can be fun planting a mixed pack and seeing what you get, but I'd expect to get at least one of each. Never mind, I'll know in future to make my own mix up, but I agree, the ones I did get make a good display anyway. Make sure you take some photos of the insides of the tulips once they flower, I got some really different photos from mine. I think the camera sometimes picks up things which the eye doesn't see. That's quite disappointing about some varieties only flowering once, definitely something to consider when choosing varieties in the future.
DeleteIt is a shame that you didn't get the colours you hoped for, but they are still beautiful and definitely were a bargain price! I do love tulips!! xx
ReplyDeleteI love tulips too. The range of colours were a little disappointing but I shouldn't really complain for the price, they still put on a good show.
DeletePretty, but I can see why you're disappointed looking at the packet. I think I shall grow some next year, they're lovely as they open.
ReplyDeleteI think I shall make up my own colour mix in future. I was without tulips last year and I really missed them, they're such lovely flowers.
DeleteI love everything about Wilkos!! It's one of my favourite shops. Their seeds and bulbs are such terrific value, and always come up trumps in my garden. I have stacks of aliums currently reaching for the stars that I bought from there. Your tulips are very lovely.
ReplyDeleteLeanne xx
I usually buy my bulbs from Wilko's, as you say, they're such great value. The mix of colours in this pack may have been a bit disappointing but they still put on a good show and you can't ask for much more for a pound. I had some alliums in my garden but they seem to have gone missing so I must buy some more.
DeleteI've had the same happen in the past. I think that there should be a rule that they should show the colours that you will actually get on the package. Usually as you found these packs usually are just shades of red and yellow which I guess is why they are so cheap.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to see how many of each colour appeared in, say, a dozen packs. That would give some indication of how the packs are actually made up. I would bet that the dark purple and white only make a rare appearance. I suppose it's like anything in life, you pay for what you get. They still put on a good display so I'm not too disappointed.
DeleteI think for a £1 the blooms were good value and colourful ... now you've planted them they should make a good show for next year too.
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend
All the best Jan.
They were very good value. I've got quite a few spring bulbs planted in the garden as I tend to plant the ones I have in containers each year in the ground once they've finished flowering.
DeleteThey are so beautiful, Jo. I love the red and yellow combination. It is difficult to grow them here because they are a favorite of the deer. I posted about mine today. P. x
ReplyDeleteThe red and yellow is a lovely combination. I have some in the garden which were here when we moved here over twenty one years ago. It's amazing just how well some things do, they seem to keep going for ever.
DeleteIt's a great display and good value as you got quite a lot for £1. I chose a few for this season as I wanted some white and stripey ones, but it was still hit-and-miss as some didn't even produce flowers. However, I enjoyed the ones that did and loved looking into the centres.
ReplyDeleteThere's never any guarantee with plants and bulbs as we've both found out. It's a shame yours were hit and miss but I'm pleased you still enjoyed the display.
DeleteWhat a lovely splash of colour. (As it happens the only tulips I have are those dark purple ones)
ReplyDeleteThey're definitely colourful. I think the dark purple ones are a lovely colour, it's a shame there were none in the pack.
DeleteI'd say you have the bargain of the century there for a pound! Shame you missed out on the black and white ones though....my tulips rarely come up year two!xxx
ReplyDeleteWilko's always have great deals on their bulbs so I often buy from there. I have some tulips in the garden which were here before we bought the house over twenty one years ago and they're still going strong.
DeleteI had the same colour scheme from a bag of Tesco tulips - first the pinks, then reds, a stripey yellow red, and the yellows being the last to come up. My white/green exotic emporer tulips from Ms Raven came up before the Tesco lot and outlasted them, flowering for over 2 months! Not bad for second season tulips! My Morrison Pink Passion tulips (planted v v late in Dec) are only just flowering now. Total spend £8 for 2 years worth of spring flowers - not bad, eh!
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely some bargains to be had, and something to be said for planting late when they extend the season in this way.
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