The tulip return record has been surprisingly good, especially for Darwins and some Greigii varieties. I'd credit success to deep plantings.

Success with return is good to know. I have ordered lots of tulips myself for this fall. Mostly the Darwins. I really, really want them to return as the money spent is too much for annuals. Plus it's lots of hard work to do all that planting. I plan to plant them deep.

How deply did you plant your tulips?

8" avg., maybe more...
more Banja Luka -

Thanks. Very Pretty!

Its much cooler today and I notice all my tulips have stayed closed the way they do at night.

That was me yesterday. Above pic was from today...hopefully you tomorrow.

Well, I don't have very many tulips. What I have left. 20 or so? Is from fall 2007 when I planted 120 or so. 2008 was very good, 2009 not bad bloom either. This year just about all gone. I plan to plant again this fall.

That's about how they bloom for me, too, Rita. Good the first year, pretty good the next, and then way downhill.

Thats what I am thinking might be the cycle on the tulips. I just bought about 370 of them for this fall. Going to be a bummer if I have to replant every three years. Oh well, they are so pretty.

A couple of years ago I tried a little experiment with Tulips. I got 50 of each 'Perestroyka' and 'Blushing Lady', single late varieties, both sports of 'Temple of Beauty'. Most I planted in a lawn area with good soil, and where I knew they'd remain good and dry for summer, and gave them bulb food when planted. The leftovers went into a garden bed. Those in the lawn are just pretty much gone- a stray leaf here and there, but that's it. Those in the garden are about to bloom again for the 3rd year. I'm thinking those in the lawn weren't planted as deeply, that's the only key factor I can think of.

Neal, that's interesting about the lawn tulips being totally gone. I am wondering if the folliage got cut back quicker in those lawn planted ones.

Hmmm...you know, that could have been the problem. I'm not sure, but it's highly possible my partner got mower happy, LOL.

Yes, Russ gets mower happy in the spring. Too bad not the rest of the year.

LOL, I hear ya there!

Red Hunter - a small species bulb

Temple's Favorite

Purple fringed tulip

Purple swirled tulip

Beautiful, jmorth! I especially love Red Hunter.

The species Tulips are opening fast with these warm days.

I love this one, 'Lady Jane'

Jmorth, I love the purple swirled tulip. That's gorgeous.

I don't have a good return rate---probably due to our clay. Do the species tulips have a better return rate? They look so delicate and pretty. Are they as carefree and dependable as they look?

I love seeing everyone's pictures. So pretty and cheerful.