Why a bulb story now?

Why a bulb story now? (post #16382)

D7uDBSBndt on Sun, 02/21/2010 - 12:32

Feedback On Fine Gardening

I don't understand why the editor would tease us with a story on 'new and interesting bulbs' in this issue if we can't plant them until next fall - where was this article last September when it could have been more useful?

Please forgive me as I've not (post #16382, reply #1 of 9)

by Noel-in-England in reply to D7uDBSBndt [original] on Mon, 02/22/2010 - 08:40

Please forgive me as I've not seen the article in question - BUT there are Summer - Flower bulbs ( these are usually only 'Half-Hardy' or 'Tender' , I know ) - but they have their place in containers that you store in a frost & mouse-free place over winter )

I'm thinking Canna, Trillium, Nerine, Ranunculus.

By the way - did the article include Corms & Tubers;- these aren't bulbs , no - but are very often grouped in with them.

The classic hardy corms to plant 'now' would be Crocosmia & Montbretia.

I haven't seen the article (post #16382, reply #2 of 9)

by Karen in reply to D7uDBSBndt [original] on Mon, 02/22/2010 - 09:33

I haven't seen the article either to know what bulbs are included, but I think I might like reading about fall planted, spring blooming bulbs right about now. It's really only when they're up and blooming that I notice the 'holes' in the garden -- by fall planting time it's hard to remember where I needed something more or visualize how new bulbs fit in with the existing plantings. I always say I'm going to take pictures for later reference but I never do.

North Carolina - zone 7

Great question, D7uDBSBndt (post #16382, reply #3 of 9)

by SteveA in reply to D7uDBSBndt [original] on Tue, 02/23/2010 - 07:24

Great question, D7uDBSBndt (how do you pronounce that, by the way?).

This is an eternal question we have: run the story when you plant it or when people are thinking about it.

Had we run the bulb article in fall, many would have responded with something like "I don't care about bulbs right now. Show me something with fall color."

Knowing that someone will always think that our timing is off (and thanks for not asking "Why do I get my April issue in February?") we try to go with what will please most people and make sure that --whenever it runs--the article is as good as we can make it. How did we do?

--Steve Aitken, Editor, Fine Gardening

FG magizine is my favorite (post #16382, reply #4 of 9)

by southernsoil in reply to SteveA [original] on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 09:27

FG magizine is my favorite garden magizine. The articles and gardeners are as diverse as many of the readers gardens. Show me some colour mixed with some green in the dead of winter and I am one happy gal. Show me a article on bulbs any time because I love to read about gardening period!

So for those of us who are (post #16382, reply #5 of 9)

by Karen in reply to SteveA [original] on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 16:40

So for those of us who are waiting for the article, what's 'new and interesting' in the bulb world these days?

North Carolina - zone 7

Karen, The article's angle (post #16382, reply #7 of 9)

by SteveA in reply to Karen [original] on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 13:38

Karen,

The article's angle is that there is more to bulbs than daffodils and tulips. Becky Heath of Brent & Becky's bulbs recommends 8 bulbs we should try out. Some examples: 'Charlotte Bishop' ipheion, 'Blue Giant' chionodoxa, and 'Blue Danube' camassia.

--Steve Aitken, Editor, Fine Gardening

I've grown Charlotte Bishop (post #16382, reply #9 of 9)

by Karen in reply to SteveA [original] on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 20:58

I've grown Charlotte Bishop for several years and think it's a great addition to the Ipheion color range. I've also got Froyle Mill, which looked kind of insipid the first year but then came into its own. Chionodoxa is a favorite though I don't think I have Blue Giant, and I've had mixed results with camassia -- lots more foliage than flowers after the first year. I'll have to go find the article and see what the rest of the "8" are.

North Carolina - zone 7

Steve - I've got to say, I (post #16382, reply #6 of 9)

by the country gardener in reply to SteveA [original] on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 13:02

Steve -

I've got to say, I really appreciated your editorial on lawns. The current political correctness seems to insist that lawns are evil. They aren't, and you expressed it well. Thanks.

Marty

"The plants have been good to us." Lester Hawkins

Thanks, Marty. I'm just (post #16382, reply #8 of 9)

by SteveA in reply to the country gardener [original] on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 13:42

Thanks, Marty.

I'm just trying to say that it isn't the lawn's fault that people spray it/overwater it/mow it all the time. And I have enough to worry about, so ignoring my lawn makes me happy.

--Steve Aitken, Editor, Fine Gardening

Why a bulb story now?