Tulips? Yes, please!

I always plant tulips. I’ve had beautiful ruffled pink ones, and fringed parrot ones, standard, double, lily flowering, you name it, I’ve tried them. I rarely see any in my garden.

They don’t like the soil or the light levels, or something, or maybe they get eaten over the winter, who knows? Fact is I don’t normally see tulips in spring. There are two exceptions to this rule: a beautiful West Point variety, bright yellow, with splendid lily flowering tulips on long, slender stems, and a basic variety with short stems and egg shaped red flowers.

Don’t judge, I understand that the latter is a standard tulip with no remarkable qualities, but it managed to make it to year two, which is rare, and it’s not even in full sun, so I’m counting my blessings.

From what I gathered I don’t plant tulip bulbs deep enough, but I doubt that is the only reason. Over many years of gardening plants taught me they have veto rights about where they are willing to grow, and I suffered many pangs of guilt over watching them wither pitifully, despite all my caring and effort. In such situations I just accept the fact that I am not going to grow that particular plant and move on.

Meanwhile April Fool brought the rain and the cold, and with it more excuses to postpone the spring cleaning. By the time I get to it, I’ll be harvesting seeds for next year.