I'm torn. There is a geranium called Raven...

that Holland Bulb Farms sells. I already have several of them.

Here's the dilemna: they're now 70% off. That's $4.78 each bareroot.

I've obviously moved away from hosta. I still do a lot of fern, but I've also now settled on the geraniums. They
- come in multiple colors
- grow in full to partial shade
- blooms late spring to frost
- are semi-evergreen
- spread readily
- are easy to remove
- are deer and squirrel proof

But, do I need more of them?

This is what I've ordered for fall 2024 planting. Now that I will have all kinds of free time in the fall, I should be able to get everything in the ground. I'm working on layouts now. If it looks like I'm going to have extras, I'll offer them at the fall swap.

I'm not sure, but I think I need to slow down.

How are the geraniums doing? I'm tempted but was hesitant to order anything bare root this late in the year.

They've sprouted and look good. My biggest problem is the squirrels. Those tree rats keep digging things up. I started out with 30 strawberry plants. I'm down to 6. The rest were all pulled out and left to die.

The squirrels aren't noticeably digging here except in a couple of deck containers, where I generally see it before there's much damage. The worst issues I've had with them is the way they like to play kickball (or something) with newly planted semps. The ones I have left have all rooted in well now.

I think my squirrel and chipmunk may be solved. One of the golden hawks that is new to the neighborhood has a couple of favorite lookout spots: the top rail of the swing in back, the fence around the new area and the top of the support frame for the bubble. Every now and then, it will just sit on the patio railing and just watch.

Sometimes Nature is our ally!

Has anybody looked at ADR this year? I need to split and relocate daffodils more than I need to plant new ones, but you know I can always be counted on to pick up a few. They have a good selection of Peruvian Amaryllis, but it looks like they are in larger boxes again this year.

I'd take 6 to 10 of any of these varieties, depending on interest (I don't want a total of 60!)
'Revelation' -- striped, looks like a darker red with a little white, $8 per jumbo bulb, tray of 16
'Double King' -- Christmas red with tiny white accents, $8 per jumbo bulb, tray of 16
'Olaf' (red), 'Minerva' (red/white), 'Denver' (white), and 'Bolero' (pink) are all $7 per jumbo bulb, tray of 16

I'd also take half a tray of 25 size 28/30 'Mandala', a deep Victorian-looking red, $5 each. I'd plant them 3 to a pot for a great display.

Does anybody like the ones that are catching my eye?

I'm also planning to order crocus from Van Engelen. Has anybody ever tried sticking crocus bulbs into the holes left by aerating the lawn? I'm thinking it should work...

Not sure the holes are big enough from aeration, I planted 400 with a weed puller 2 years ago

Peruvian:
'Bolero' (pink) Tray: 16, $111.84, $7.00 Each
'Denver' (white) Tray: 16, $111.84, $7.00 Each
'Double King' (Christmas red with tiny white accents) Tray: 16, $127.84, $8.00 Each
'Mandela' (Victorian red) Tray: 25, $124.75, $$5.00 Each
'Minerva' (red/white) Tray: 26, $127.75, $8.00 Each
'Olaf' (red) Tray: 16, $111.84, $7.00 Each
'Revelation' (striped, looks like a darker red with a little white) Tray: 16, $127.84, $8.00 Each


Jill,
I'll take:
6 Bolero ($42)
6 Denver ($42)
12 Mandela ($60)
Total $144

OK...

Cool, Rick!

6 'Bolero' and 6 'Denver' for me (could take a few more), and I'll take 6 or however many 'Mandela' remain (13, if nobody else wants some).

Hey, I just noticed 'Alaska' (double white), regular sized bulbs in a tray of 25 for $5 each. Should we do those instead of 'Denver'? We did get 'Denver' once before, many years ago, by mistake (mislabeled as Blossom Peacock I think), but it was pretty stunning. I'm good either way.

I do want a Christmas Red variety and am leaning towards 'Double King'. I can take up to the entire tray of 16 (jumbo bulbs are great gifts).

Available (and we can always juggle the numbers a little; if I get even 3 of each I'm happy)
4 'Bolero' (jumbo, $7)
4 'Denver' (jumbo, $7)
7 'Mandela' (regular, $5)
6 'Double King' (jumbo, $8)

If anybody sees others they'd like, sing out! The southern hemisphere ones are pretty much guaranteed to bloom by Christmas, but the Dutch ones follow pretty quickly after that.

The South African ones are nice Sonata varieties (shorter stout stems, huge blooms) but unfortunately are only available in trays of 70

The Dutch amaryllis look like they're $10-11 per bulb, jumbo size, 10 to a box. 'Evergreen', 'Exotic Star' (both cybister varieties, for a more exotic look), and 'Samba' (red/white with uniquely rounded petals) are especially catching my eye.

Post your favorites, and let's see what we can do!!

I would like to get some Amaryllis Belladonna bulbs. Unfortunately, they only come in a tray of 100 bulbs for $125.00, or $1.25 each.

I know I can use at least 25, but not 100. Is anyone interested in splitting a tray?

I'll take 25. I think they'd be great alongside the driveway. If we move to FL and get a place with a pool, I'll have to plant some. The most-viewed thread in DG history, I believer, was entitled "Naked Ladies by the Pool."

Edited to add, scratch that. I didn't realize they weren't hardy here. Database says zones 8 to 10.

Amaryllis for me
3 'Bolero' (jumbo, $7)
3 'Denver' (jumbo, $7)
1 'Mandela' (regular, $5)

How about 'Cherry Blossom'?

RJ, I like your weed puller idea for planting crocus bulbs!

I think our database is mistaken about Amaryllis belladonna, as several other reliable sites give its hardiness as zones 3 to 10. If it's hardy to zone 6, I'll take 25.

I could do some 'Cherry Blossom'. 16 jumbo bulbs for $111.84, or $7 per bulb. For me, probably only 3 bulbs since there are some others at VE I'm looking at. The number listed as "for Jill" doesn't include the 10-20 extras I'm willing to take to give as gifts this year, because any variety will work.

Terri, how many 'Cherry Blossom' would you want? Also, I think you "need" 2 more 'Mandala' so you can put 3 in a pot...

I'm also looking at getting 'Samba' from VE, so LMK if you want one.

I'd like to have 'Double Dream' again sometime, too. ADR has it, 10 for $10.80 per bulb, size 32/34 (which I'd call large but not jumbo). I'd take 5. Anybody else?

'Mandela' (25 regular bulbs, $5 each)
12 for Rick, 1 for Terri, 6 for Jill, 6 available

'Bolero' (16 jumbo bulbs, $7 each)
6 for Rick, 3 for Terri, 3 for Jill, 1 for SallyG, 3 available

'Denver' (16 jumbo bulbs, $7 each)
6 for Rick, 3 for Terri, 3 for Jill, 4 available

'Cherry Blossom' (16 jumbo bulbs, $7 each)
3 for Terri, 3 for Jill, 10 available

'Double King' (16 jumbo bulbs, $8 each)
6 for Jill, 10 available



'

I could take a Bolero, the ones Donner shared with me were gorgeous but I have lost/lost track of them in the driveway garden or something. I'm sure library folks would like to see an amaryllis/Hippeastrum. And these would no doubt be better bulbs than the boxed ones in all the stores.

I know, it's too early to think about this. But, in reality, it isn't. August 1st is on this coming Thursday!

To that end, we need to decide two very important things: Date and Host.

Since we usually will have the fall swao iun early October, I would suggest either October 5 or October 12.

With regard to a host, any volunteers?

The thread "2024 Mid Atlantic Fall Plant Swap" in Mid Atlantic Gardening forum

Sally, I put you down for 1 'Bolero' in the post just above. (No spreadsheet yet, but I'll start one if this thread takes off.) Yes, the bulbs are definitely larger and better quality than what you can find without paying $$$$. Donner-Sally found jumbo bulbs several years ago for $40!

Rick, I'll take 25 of the Amaryllis belladonna - may take more if needed to get to the 100 bulb flat count. I have a few already but can always use more. After a summer of voracious deer, more even that in previous years, this description of them does it for me:
"Ridiculously easy to grow, all parts of this plant are poisonous, therefore it is diligently ignored by hungry deer, rabbits, and other critters"