Happy Christmas to everyone. There are snowdrops blooming -so cheerful at this time of year.  The giant one seems to be the only one that really does well here in the south -in my garden at least but I do love them so.  If it stops raining long enough in the next couple of days I will take some photos!  There are also some narcissus Grand Soleil d'Or starting to open  What a cheery sight and even a couple of blue muscari -what are they thinking?  It is far too early for them.  They make great ground cover in the winter for the south, but even so they don't usually bloom until late March/April. 
Planted more daffodils and tulips yesterday in between showers!

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas day and very best wishes to all for the NewYear.  Happy Planting!

There is still time to get bulbs to plant before Christmas or help work off that huge Christmas meal! Or as last minute Christmas gifts -the gift that lasts and lasts. We still have a good range of minipacks with their beautiful color picture -just right as stocking fillers or put a few in a basket as a lovely gift. The mini tulips and the small bulbs also work so well in pots -they can be planted up, left outside and then brought in just before they bloom to enjoy inside.  They are also gret planted in layers over larger bulbs such as tulips or daffodils in pots.  And of course we still have some awesome Amaryllis. Don't forget, here in the south, they can be planted outside in the garden after the last frost date to give joy in coming years outside. Further north keep them until the leaves dry out then stop watering and repot in the fall for next year.

The rain here was really welcome -just what we needed to wake up those dormant bulbs already in the ground. It has been so dry in South Carolina this fall.  My first giant snowdrops are already blooming though and the winter honeysuckle with its heavenly scent is displaying its gorgeous little white blooms -they will last for a couple of months. It is a straggly bush but is a great addition to the winter garden if tucked away and the blooms will fill a room with their fragrance. Let me know if anyone locally would like any cuttings!

 

To purchase bulbs  or request a catalog, you can email me or call 1-800-999-0567 or locally of course 864 229 1618 or email info@marlborobulb.com  You can call also and arrange to visit the warehouse  -Marlboro Bulb Company, 2424 Hwy 72 - 221E, Greenwood SC 29692  www.marlborobulb.com is our website.  Our new spring catalog is also out now and the Christmas holiday is a great time to sit and relax with the new catalog and choose items to plant in the spring for keeping those blooms coming through the summer.

Have a wonderful and happy Christmas, and if you are traveling -keep safe.

Happy Planting

fall bulbs

Well I did get quite a few bulbs planted of all kinds -daffodils, tulips, iris, mini tulips -they are such good perennials -iris, crocus, eranthis and alliums, muscari -so I have been busy there as well as rehearsing for the latest play -Miracle on 34th Street in Fountain Inn -that opens tonight Dec 7th at 7.30pm -need more info on that? Call the box office on 864 409 1050  And I am coughing still -oh dear, hope I can keep that under control on stage!!

Still trying to get all that winter weeding and tidying up done as well though. 

We still have fall bulbs available at the warehouse in Greenwood SC, also minipacks and Amaryllis for those last minute Christmas Gifts!  Call us on 1-800-999-0567 or email info@marlborobulb.com You still have time to plant, especially here inthe south.  This is a great time to plant now the soil has cooled down.  Make sure you water well though to get those roots growing.  It has been so dry around here.  Happy Planting!

Well its time for the paperwhites to come into their own indoors.  Of course here in the South we can also plant them outside after they have finished blooming and after the last frost  in April here-they will then bloom outside in a sunny sheltered spot later next year -around mid Nov/early December.  These shown are our Super Paperwhites -they have bigger bulbs, bigger blooms, more stems per bulb and less fragrance than the usual Paperwhite Ziva  They are so lovely -try putting them in a Chritmas pot and surround with white chips for a surreal snow scene. 
Of course the Amaryllis are coming along too -but more on those another day -though we do have some stunning double pink and white Amaryllis Blossom Peacock -an unusual variety as it has a little FRAGRANCE too!  So call us while we still have some -1-800-999-0567 or email info@marlborobulb.com

Fall harvest

Still picking gorgeous dahlias and beautiful colored caladium leaves for indoors.  Also picked 2 figs today -mmm delicious.  There are still a few peppers ripening.  I tried the new sweet pepper Merlot in my 'alcoholic' garden -all the plants have the name of alcohol!!: Caladium brandywine, Viburnum Brandywine, Atropurpurea Burgundy Glow, Deutzia, Chardonnay Pearl, Colocasia Mojita among many others.  I also have a white garden, an Asian garden, a South Carolina Garden, a rock garden and so on.  Having fun with the garden means spending more time there and it is amazing how other people help you look for plants or suggest them, or even pass along plants that they know will fit into a theme.  It is a great talking piece too for a party.

What ideas do you have for garden areas or themes?

Presentation

I will be at the Greenville  SC Women's Garden Club on Wednesday October 3rd.
Our next presentation will be at the Hayden Center for the Iris Garden Club.  This will be on 'Fall for Fall Bulbs' on Thusrday Oct 11th.  It is always fun to go on the road with a presentation and meet other keen gardeners and those just starting out.  We all have so many tips and ideas to share.  It is a great way to find out more about your local growing area as well as more general hints on varieties and tried and tested ideas and experience.  Everyone has some knowledge to share or some question to ask.
After this it will be Columbia on November 13 but more on that one later -though you can always ask for more information any time -that will be open to the public. Call 1-800-999-0567, email info@marlborobulb.com or ask in the comment section for more information, for a catalog or if you would like presentation at your function or garden club.

Lycoris

As the days shorten and the nights are turning cooler we are rewarded with an explosion of color from Lycoris Radiata.  The red version is headturning and en masse definitely breathtaking.  Be sure to plant right near the surface in a sunny site and then leave them alone! They are fine in grass too as you can see.  They don't like being mulched or planted too deeply nor do they seem to respond too well to fertilizer.  What an awesome perennial bulb.  Common names include Spider lily, naked lady due to the lack of leaves until after the blooms are done, though that is generally attached to the pink variety for some reason.  The yellow variety is a little more unusual and not quite so hardy.

presentation Sep 13th

Hostas?  Are they your favorite?  Come and see our presentation on Hostas and Companions in the Greenwood SC library at 7pm on Thursdy September 13th.  This is organized by the Master Gardeners but it will be open to the public also.  There will be fall bulbs and hosta plants for sale afterwards.

Hope you can make it.  If you have any questions you would like answering -just let us know, or if you would like us to bring any particular bulbs we will be happy to do that if we have them in stock.

You can call us on 1-800-999-0567 or email info@marlborobulb.com

Well- those caladiums keep getting better! They are an unbelieveable plant especially in the south where we get 5 months of awesome colour with no work.  Of course this summer has been a little wetter around here than usual and we don't have irrigation so that has helped- but even so.  They really are amgnificent and en masse they make really good ground cover helping to keep the soil cooler, moist and fairly weed free.
It is a joy though to have some days in the low 80s now with lower humidity.  Surprised to see the nights go down to 58/60F so early though.  I wonder if that means we are going to get an early winter this year?
The Bishop series dahlias are doing well again this year.  They don't sell as well as the  large dinnerplate varieties, but my goodness, they keep on blooming and with their bronze foliage make a very attractive perennial plant.  Something to look at.  Let me know if oyu want more information -either through the blog or email me at info@marlborobulb.com

Hostas????

Caladiums Freida hemple and Miss Muffett

Caladiums Red Flash and Florida Cardinal

 

Well I suppose I did go  a little crazy with the caladiums!  At least they shade the hostas in the hot summer sun and the hostas had a great time earlier in the season. And you can still see some of the hostas. Anyway, gardening is partly about the changing scenes. No two days are the same -there's always something new to discover, something that was missed or something new appearing.  Life is a little like that too isn't it?  If we take the time to 'stop and smell the roses' that is.

Hosta Paul's Glory is a really good hosta for the south -doesn't burn like some of them.

Hosta Paul's Glory

Caladiums caladiums and more caladiums!

OK so I have neglected my blog but now I am back -I promise !

CaladiumWhite Queen

CaladiumGarden White and Colocasia Jack's Giant

 

I just have to share my love of caladiums as ground cover at this time of year -they just give such wonderful trouble free color -and what color -they can be striking or retiring, brash and bold or show a delicate blush in the background.  Some work really well in the sun -you cannot beat the tried and tested Red Flash for that but try the new Garden White (the second picture)-it needs a fancier name than that though! Also White Queen (see picture above)and Aaron are both standing up well to this summer  in South Carolina. And goodness has it been hot.  This was a good year for me to visit Europe.  I went back to my native UK and to France, where I have also lived and enjoyed so much.   Anyway back to Caladiums, they give 5 months of color in the south and are great at helping keep down the weeds. They also grow well in pots and can be over wintered in pots kept in temps. above 50 degrees.  They also make good cut leaves for indoors and last well as a leaf arrangement or in contrast with a few blooms. Wow wha a marvellous plant.
Another fairly new variety is Caladium Tapestry -see below.  Here it is grown with the elephant ear Colocasia Diamond Head -a gorgeous shiny purple leaved variety that will also take some sun.
Let  me know if you would like more Caladium pictures

April

April showers bring forth May flowers -and endless weeds!!!  What a year so far -unbelieeable weather so many hot days already -the daffodils were great but it has definitely not been a good year for tulips.  Many were stunted in the warm weather -they need more cold than most places could provide this spring.  They didn't last so well either -but that is gardening.  You cannot control the weather! But there are real pluses too -
My gorgeous rambling rose Cecile Brunner is already in full bloom (oops never got it pruned this year either!!)and the blueberries are swellin . I have been picking asparagus for days now -mmmm -delicious! And of course lettuce leaves, sorrel, spinach and swiss chard.
Must find some time to get on top of those pesky weeds though -I hate using chemicals, but the paths are impossible unless I keep them controlled I try to weed by hand in the flower beds and definitely in veggie patch but goodness they have shot up so fast and so flourishingly this year -i despair of gaining the upper hand!! Help!!!! Anyone want to come and help me weed???

Feb flowers

Daffodils dancing!

Tulips twirling!

paperwhites parading

Iris idling

What an array of color for late February.  Such a joy

February

Well we have had a roller coaster ride of Temperatures  and the poor plants must be wondering what on earth is going on.  It is wonderful to see so many spring blooms bringing their joy and beautiful bright colors to cheer us.  Daffodils are still doing well despite the nasty cold snap except the Grand Soleil D'Or that had been blooming for a while -they haven't resurrected, but the ones still in bud or only just opening are fine.  More varieties of daffodil are opening daily it seems and the Muscari aremeniacum, (grape hyacinths) are popping up everwhere with their delightful blue contrast to all the whites and yellows.  They are still in small groups, but nevertheless a delightful sight in the morning.