Fresh bouquet 4-16-10

Twelve little blooms pack a colorful punch in this milk glass container.

Fresh Bouquet ~ 4-6-10

The first bouquet of the season – daffodils with a sprig of Abeliophyllum

Allium aflatunense ~ Purple Allium

I grow the spring blooming bulbs, Allium aflatunense and its sister, Allium aflatunense ‘Purple Sensation’ in my cutting gardens.  Blooming in mid-May for me, they bring some early color and interest along with the late tulips.  If not cut during their colorful blooming stage, they will make an interesting cut flower later, when the florets have turned into green seed pods.  The foilage starts to decline as soon as it begins to bloom, so plant these where the dying foliage can be hidden by other plants.

Growing information:

Hardy zones 4 – 9

Height – 24 to 30 inches

Bloom time – late spring

Prefers sun.

For the longest vase life, cut when the first few florets are opening.

Eremurus ~ Foxtail Lily

When the foxtail lilies are blooming, visitors want to know what they are and how to grow them. Foxtail lilies are a summer blooming bulb that are planted in the spring. They are listed as zone 5, but have survived three winters in my zone 4 garden (with last winter being a record cold winter). These are also know by the name Desert Candles.

Growing information:

Hardy zone 5- 8

Bloom time – early summer

Height – 3 to 5 feet

Full sun and well drained soil required