Tulip’s – Rain stopped play!

The tulips were doing so well! Admittedly the single early’s had pretty much finished, but the Darwins, Doubles, Fringed and Lily Flowereds were hanging on in there. My late doubles were just coming out, so are looking a bit sorry for themselves, but fingers crossed they’ll dry out.

When I’m asked what is my favourite flower? I always say tulips. It’s not exactly true as I think it’s impossible to choose, I love all flowers. But the tulip slightly stands out for me. Whether it’s because it’s so early in the season and we’re still desperate for bright colours after the winter?

Welcome colour in early spring from Lily Flowered Tulips

The different varieties of tulips I have, grows every year (literally). The first tulips I ever bought (a long time ago) were ‘Queen of the night’ (dark purple) and ‘Ballerina’ (orange) I have always loved this colour combination and still use it in the garden.

Tulip ‘Queen of the night’ & ‘Ballerina’ under the Magnolia Liliflora ‘Nigra’

I always used to use very controlled colour combinations with tulips. Either planting all the same colour or just two varieties. That is until I saw Dunsborough Park, their tulip meadow was featured in a magazine a few years ago. I was blown away.

They had planted fields with every colour of tulip, giving it the look of a wild flower meadow. It looked simply stunning!

When they’ve finished with this years bulbs from their formal beds, they move them to grassy areas where they erupt into a riot of colour.

It was featured on Gardeners World a couple of weeks ago, when Carol Klein visited. If you haven’t already watched it, I would recommend that you do. There is also a virtual tour of their Tulip festival on the National Garden Schemes website.

Wildflower meadow in a Dolly Tub

As a result, that autumn I planted my granny’s old dolly tub with a mixture of colours. It’s a great size for packing loads in to give a really good display. I managed to find an identical dolly tub at the local auction. I can’t imagine what my Gran would think about me growing flowers in her old washing tub.

I know you are supposed to replant with new bulbs every year, but I’ve left them for a second year and they are just as good. When they’ve completely died down in another few weeks, I shall be copying Dunsborough and planting them into the borders.

Now that we can buy tulips so cheaply it’s hard to believe the crazy prices they were traded for in the 17th century at the height of Tulip Mania! We’re very lucky.

I got some real smashers from Wilco’s a few years ago, ‘Double Late Blue Spectacle’. They were only £5 and as the name suggests they are late flowering and come as many of the other tulips are fading. As their name also suggests they are ‘spectacular’. They resemble a rose or a peony. This is their fourth year in the border and they are showing no signs of weakening.