Even though the weather has been totally schizophrenic, the species tulips are out in full force.
I planted some in my newest Day Lily garden, which started out life as the Rose Garden portion of my stroll garden. Over the years all the roses planted there succumbed to the rose rosette disease that is indigenous to our area. Thanks to the plantings of multiflora roses done in the 30s and 40s, we not only have a vector for the mite that carries the virus but a state-wide infestation of an invasive exotic.
At any rate, a couple of years ago when the last rose kicked the bucket, I repurposed the area as a day lily garden. I needed a new space for them since the original day lily garden is not very happy any more due to the fact that the shrubbery of the stroll garden has gotten so tall it shades the day lilies to the north of it, and the ground ivy and vinca are busy trying to strangle them at the same time.
There are days when I wonder why in the world I think I have enough energy to maintain all the gardens I do have. Especially when I am suffering the results of the face plant I did a few days ago. My artificial hip does not think that was a good activity to engage in. But at least I did not plant my face in the rock borders of the path I fell into.
But I digress.
It turns out that if you plant species tulips you have planted something that is a survivor and a colonizer. If you think about the fact that most of these little beauties are natives of the mountains of Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan, it makes perfect sense. Even so, it was news to me that a couple of tiny bulbs could manifest as empire builders. They are indeed.
Check out the orange tulips, and ntoice how they have spread through the garden. The yellow ones in the right corner have completely filled in the area around the perovskia (Russian sage). Fortunately, they appear to be willing to peacefully coexist with it, unlike some other colonizers I could name. (e.g. Missouri primrose, spotted knapweed).
Here is a close up of the corner where the tulips are happiest.
Yes, yes. I see the chickweed in the lower corner.
Two days ago it was 80 degrees here, yesterday the temperature dropped precipitously all day and this morning it is just below freezing. I have a cover over my peonies, which are now about a foot tall, and am hoping and praying that they will survive tonight. The wisteria is way too large to cover, it has big swollen buds and I hope it also makes it through the freeze promised for tonight.
The tulips won’t care at all.
the havens 