Daffodils

Springtime brings splashes of color that will surely chase away the winter blues; specifically the bright daffodil.  In my opinion, one can never have too many daffodils.

There are a huge array of colors and “faces” available and they are truly easy to grow and very easy to divide.  Some gardeners keep their daffodils in large groups, some, like me, love to plant them anywhere I can make a six-inch hole.  

I would strongly suggest that you invest in the best and biggest bulbs, and to keep a longer span of daffodil color, buy some early, mid-season and late bulbs.  In the northeast, the bulbs are planted in the fall.  I sprinkle a small amount of wood ash in the hole before covering the bulb and tamping down the ground. Cats and squirrels like to dig if the ground isn’t tamped down, I discovered one year.

In the spring, the bright green nubs of the daffodils will quickly come up once the snow is gone.  Don’t do a thing to them, other than watch their splendor.  I look around my yard to see where I want more and mark it, so that I can add bulbs there in the fall.

After the third year of a daffodil’s life, I disturb them a bit.  While they are still in bloom, I take a spade, deeply dig all around the cluster of plants and gently pull the entire bunch up.  I remove some of the bulbs, keeping the entire flower intact and separate the bulbs, leaving only two or three to go back into the hole. The ones I removed go quickly back into the ground elsewhere in my yard.  I’ve never lost a daffodil by doing it this way; the plants don’t even seem to notice the move. This is a very good way to expand on expensive fancy types of daffodils without paying the fancy price for the bulbs; another way is to find another person with varieties different from yours and making a swap.

After they start losing their beautiful flowers, I cut off the dead heads so that the energy will go back into the bulb.  I give them a bit of general garden fertilizer and some wood ash. In the fall, I cut the faded stems off and let them be until they once again bring Spring to my yard.

The Lovely Lupine

Lovely Lupines

 

Lupinus Perennis (wild lupine) and Lupinus Polyphyllus (Russell Breed) are a joy to behold in a spring garden.  Most dramatic plants in like-color groups, lupines are often a focal piece for your garden, especially placed near the back. The plants are tall; often over four feet in full bloom, so tucking them in the back will keep them from hiding smaller blooms in the front.  An added bonus is that when the lupines die back, you can easily deadhead them and the plant will still give texture to the garden.

 

Lupines can offer spectacular color choices for your gardens, including blue, violet, lavender, white, apricot, yellow, pink and red.  If you currently have lupines and want to move them so that they will have more of a visual impact, you have to wait until fall.  For now, tie a piece of yarn that is the color of the blossom around the base of the stalk.  When fall comes and the plant has died away, be prepared to dig deep to get as much of the root as possible.  Even a small plant can have a root larger than a large carrot with many offshoots. Plant it in a new deep hole and add some composted manure along with the dirt.  Snug it in with your shoes to make sure it is tightly packed.

 

You can also grow lupine from seed, although occasionally this method seems to make for weaker plants. Gather the seeds, place them in a small baggie, and freeze them for at least three months.  Take them out of the freezer and put in a tablespoon of water; seal up the bag and let it sit overnight.  Before planting them, take the side of a meat mallet or a hammer and gently tap the seeds to crack the tough outer shell. Plant the seeds in composted soil in peat pots; keep them warm and on the damp side.  In just a few days they will germinate.  Let them stay in the pot until they are about four inches tall; then you may transplant them into your flower bed.

 

Lupine grow in many areas of the United States and in Europe (Zones 3-9) They grow best in sandy soil with full sun to partial shade. They like well drained soil with no lime.

 

Lupines are a wonderful addition to anyone’s flower bed.  They are easy to grow and not invasive.  With very little care they should give you many years of bountiful spires of color in your gardens.