Sunday, February 3, 2008

Super Bulb Sunday

Yesterday I went to SC to visit my grandparents. They have moved to a retirement center, and will be selling their house as soon as it is "ready" (that's a post for another day). My grandfather loves plants too, so he has millions of flowers in his yard, and so every time I go, I always dig up a few plants to bring home.

Okay, more than a few. This time I came home with about 100-150 daffodils. It almost feels like cheating, digging up daffodils in spring, just a few weeks before they bloom, and moving them to my yard.

I also got some daylilies, and several large clumps of liriope. Teresa wanted me to put the liriope around the front bed, and dig up the variegated liriope that is already there. She doesn't like the variegated kind in that spot because it gets sunburned. So now I have a cartload of variegated liriope that I don't know what to do with.

13 comments:

Carol Michel said...

You're an expert at moving plants, you'll find a place for that variegated liriope. If not, you can always dig a new bed.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

kate said...

That's more like a plant bonanza. I imagine you will be able to find a place to tuck in the Liriope!1

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Put that varigated liriope around your new fountain. That bed will just be begging for some of your inherited plants I bet.

I also bet your Grandfather is pleased that you are able to take a bit of his garden and put it into yours.

Anonymous said...

It's not cheating to take almost blooming dafs. It's your right - it's part of your inheritance dammit!

Christine said...

I love idea of 'heirloom' gardening. Too many people move and leave entire gardens for other people who just rip out everything and 'plant' gravel and rocks.

David said...

I found several places for it, Carol. I think I like it better in a big "splash" than as a border plant.

I am very lucky to be able to get those plants, Kate.

I though of that, Lisa, but the bed is nowhere near ready--nothing but a garden hose stretched out in the grass. I put it in a shady area near my fence instead.

Good point, Jim!

Christine, mine is definitely a "heirloom garden." I've got plants from so many friends and family members.

Gina said...

Hey David! I'm so jealous of you digging up your grandpa's daffs! My grandma has bazillions of daffodils lining her driveway that my grandfather planted before he died (he's been dead for almost 35 years!) and she's given me permission to bring some home to my own garden but she lives way in Memphis and I can't figure out how to get them home to Chicago.

David said...

Sounds like a road trip to me, Gina. Maybe you oughta pack a shovel, some buckets, and some excellent tunes and head south!

Mary said...

Oh, you'll find a place for that cartload. No doubt.

Annie in Austin said...

What a nice problem to have, David - lots of heirloom plants! Could you interplant clumps of the daylilies with clumps of daffodils? The daylily foliage should start getting full at the same time the fading daffodil leaves need disguising.

I'll bet your grandparents are very happy that their daffodils went home with you.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Sherry at the Zoo said...

Those are the very best plants, the ones that come from someone's garden that we know and love...

I'm with Carol, you can always dig a new bed when you outgrow the ones you have...

Ashley said...

David,

I saw your blog in the Carolina Country magazine and have been reading ever since! Now i have a question for you,

There are some daffodils blooming in a small vacant lot near my home and I'd like to transplant them to my yard. Will they die if I dig them up now that they've already started to bloom? Is there anything that I need to be careful about? I would appreciate any tips! Hope you and your plants are enjoying the rain we're getting today!

David said...

Hi Ashley,

If you can dig them up while the soil is moist and replant them fairly quickly, like the same day or the next, they will probably keep their blooms just fine. Just be sure to keep them watered after you transplant them. The worst thing that will happen is that the blooms will droop, but they'll come back next year with no problem. Good Luck!