The other blends I got are late singles, and one of them just started showing color. I'm pretty sure Gentle Giants is a blend of the Impression series, minus the red (Pink, Apricot, and Salmon Impression). Since they're all sports of Pink Impression, they coordinate nicely together. They also offer a mix with red included that I like. I cut a bouquet of all the colors and there is enough pinkish undertone to Red Impression to make it blend softly with the others.

The late single mixes I got were Three Queens, Strike me Pink, and the French blend of rose tones. I'm uber excited about the French blend- they look like they're going to be really tall and stately! I'll get some pics this afternoon.

Thanks Neal!

From the looks of your gardens, your bulbs (tulips, daffs, etc...) bloom earlier than I do in northern KY, even though we're both zone 6a.

Yes, and I even see a dramatic difference just from one side of the hill to the other with bloom times. And it varies from year to year. That's one reason I'm kinda OCD about color coordination- if I choose from the same palette for a bed, no matter what the bloom time. That way when wonky weather switches things up, I'm not seeing combos that make my head blow up, LOL.

That's the floral designer in you!!

Neal, I loved your tour, so many beautiful blooms and plants, what great gardens you have, and purple is my favorite color.

Combos that make your head blow up......

Neal, I agree with every single word said about your garden, but have to add that I love the colours you painted your house and repeated on different garden elements. What a lovely place you have created!

Thanks Ursula!

This time of year the garden goes into overdrive, its hard to even see everything that's happening! Tulips are making the pink bed bright, and the Lilac there is going to be full of blooms.


The creeping phlox is about to start blooming in the tub, and the Dianthus looks like its going to bloom well shortly afterword

So pretty. Tulips here are starting up just today with the extra early types.

Please don't forget to post pictures of the magnolia(s) in bloom. I love magnolias!

This little combo is making me happy right now.


Wilhelmina is posing among the Erlicheer daffs and summer snowflake.


I love any kind of Phlox. The first one is a hybrid of P.subulata and P.stolonifera I got last year, and this is my first time seeing blooms. Interesting how the foliage looks like woodland phlox, but is evergreen.

Only have a Galaxy magnolia as of now, hoping it blooms well. It does have a couple of buds opening- I was worried after the extra cold winter. There is also a saucer magnolia in the field in front of the house that was already here. I can't imagine why someone planted it way down there, but I'll be sure to get a pic of it. Its funny standing alone in the middle of a hay field.

This tulip and daff wowed me today. I hadn't expected such a great match of colors! The tulip is Darwin hybrid, Marit, and the daff is Blushing Lady.

Fantastic blooms!,..and i agree with you those Daffodils and the Tulips go very well together,..nice picture of Wilhelmina relaxing,..its great that we have the opportunity to study your blooms in large pictures,..well done Neal.

Those really do go wonderfully together.

It has been an interesting learning experience moving from a small garden to lots of wide, open space. The striking thing immediately was that it required me to "paint with broader strokes". Where in the past a clump of 10 tulips or 5 daffodils made a visual impact, in many parts of this yard that is barely enough to be seen. The great part was upon moving, the perennials and bulbs all were divided, so I had plants to fill much more space right off the bat.

Overcast here this morning and the light is just right for some pics. Single late tulips are coming along, I love seeing them with the lilacs.


Herbaceous perennials are developing quickly now, and I love the contrast they provide with the stiffer look of bulb plants. Columbine are budding, Euphorbia and Heuchera look bigger every time I go outside.


I had been many years since I'd grown any parrot tulips, I'd forgotten how gnarly and strange the buds look!

It's lovely Neal! How long have you been gardening here?