August already!

Well, again a long drought between blogs and lots of rain on the flowers -but the summer has been crazy with a trip to Aruba and the Aloe Vera Farm -that was so interesting.  I have already bought 2 aloe vera plants and planted them in warm sheltered spots in the garden. Hope they survive. They are really easy to use -just cut a leaf and it them like a fish and rub the gel on your skin -no sticky finish; your skin will drink up the wonderful gel feel so soft!

Also TWO trade shows, a big one in Columbus OH that was really busy- but 3 days on the trade show floor gets a bit too much.  Then the 2 day show in the newly revived SNA -Southern nurserymen's Assoc in Atlanta GA -2 days is great and I love the interaction and the chance to meet with friends, customers and fellow booth staff -old and new.  It is a great talking place and a good opportunity to see a lot of people in one place and in a short space of time.  I always think trade shows are very good value for the networking chances they offer.  There is a lot more optimism in the industry too which is very encouraging.

 

Of course I was also in the play, The Red Velvet Cake War as a German Psychologist -one minute very prim and proper and the next falling in love and chasing the guy!!!

But, back to the garden at home -yet more huge weeds -with so many trips away and so much rain this year the weeds have really taken hold.  Some pull up so very easily and others as you know I'm sure are tougher and deeper.  The crusher run drives are  a mess too with so much grass and weeds growing through.  I really have to use round up; I can't see a way round that unless anyone can offer advice on killing weeds on paths and driveways -quite a large area too as I love walkways through the various garden areas.  I love to get in among the plants not just see them from a distance and paths through beds beckon.  They say so clearly "come and see"

Lilytopia

June -this is my birthday month and the month for lilies, so I have to start with my very own lily, named for me Patricia's Pride

This is by the side of my 5 o'clock or alcoholic garden!  See earlier posts for that one!

Now for a couple more stunning lilies

This one is Forever Susan -named by Allan Armitage for his wife.

And this one is Abbeville's Pride.  we named this as a fundraiser for the Abbeville Opera house for their 100th Anniversary a few years ago

and one more for now The one below is Royal Trinity

Fireworks!

Gorgeous firework-like flowers that last really well in a vase.  Allium christophii or Albopilosum as it is now more commonly called, is a great addition to any garden.  Plant in the fall.  This one was planted late so didn't bloom until early
June! You can also dry these flowerheads  and spray with gold or silver paint for beautiful Christmas decorations or table decorations.

May Already??

Goodness is it really so long since I added a blog?  Sorry! So much happening in the garden too -including endless weeds.  The iris and hostas love all this rain.  What a wet cool spring it has been.  At least the daffodils and tulips really lasted well this year.  I went to visit friends in Delaware a coupleof weeks ago and also took the opportunity of visiting Longwood Gardens-haven't been in April for a long time -the gardens were stunning.

  Now back home and the lilies are getting tall and lots of new growth is appearing everywhere.

The Allium Siculum

 is stunning this year.  It is also a plant that cuts well for those flower arrangers out there!  Will also be rehearsing for The Red Velvet cake War opening May 31st.  I will get to that weeding sometime I suppose -it will still be there, that's for sure!

Brave Delight

Narcissus Grand Soleil d'Or -At last you can see what I am talking about!!! (The feature to add a picture from my computer seems to have returned )This little treasure has been blooming since early December.  Just got back from the GGIA Atlanta trade show to a lyer of freezing rain on the roads around the Greenville SC area and temperatures around 26 degrees F and this morning these brave little souls have STILL perked up their heads in defiance of the weather to bring the sun out in the garden!!  I now have 3 blooms of Narcissus Rijnelds Early Sensation  too.  The smaller early daffodils make such wonderful landscape additions to cheer us onour way at this time of year.   They are so underused.   Similarly the miniature tulips are coming up and are a great additon to rock gardens and pots.  Once they start to bloom I will add their joyous faces to the blog.Crazy weather though -it is forecast to be 70degrees again by Tuesday.    How the  poor garden can cope with such dramatic variations never fails to amaze me.

Anyway, I brought back a beautiful specimen of Edgeworthia Winter Gold from our dear friends at Cam Too Camelia nursery in NC and some wonderful organic coffee and organic pecans from Cleveland Organics of GA.  You should check out their stuff I promise you it is worth it.  It was a good trade show, busy and as always, it was fun to see old friends and catch up with their news

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone. I hope you have a wonderful gardening year too.

Here is a clump of my giant snowdrops they are so uplifting on a grey day and so brave to withstand the storms and the frost don't you think?

I tried to add a picture of the cheery yellow Narcissus Grand Soleil d'Or -a little beauty, especially so early.  It reminds us of the joys of gardening and the lift to our spirits when we see the early growth or new blooms.  Anyway, the photo keeps turning sideways on me -how do I turn a picture selected for the blog?  Can anyone help me with that?  It is the right way up in my computer files!!

I planted a bunch of the exquisite miniature tulips in the fairy garden together with the mini iris reticulata, so I am looking forward to a fabulous display in that corner of the garden early this spring.

Anyway, it is not too late to plant spring bulbs they will just bloom a little later.  Daffodils especially, will still be fine, I aim to spend time this coming weekend planting more lovely bulbs.  We still have a selection available at the warehouse in Greenwood SC   We also have a few double Amaryllis Blossom Peacock and some paperwhite Narcissus for sale.

Let us know if you still need anything.  Also if you would like a copy of our new spring catalog call us at Marlboro Bulb Company on 1-800-999-0567 or email info@marlborobulb.com We would love to hear from you and share any or your gardening stories.

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

November flowers

Acidanthera in November?  Just Gorgeous! And Snowdrops at the same time? Oh, and that heavenly scented winter honeysuckle -Lonicera fragrantissima -just a few twigs fills the room with a delicious scent.  It makes a beautiful vase with some of the paperwhites that are also blooming outside right now too.  And the beautiful white fall Camellia in my white garden.  What a wonderful mix of  white flowers.

Don't forget winter trees too -the bark of the river birch too is just stunning against a blue sky.        Well the 12 month garden is now reality after 4 years of work!! Enjoyable work I hasten to add.

Happy Gardening to all. 

Rain at last

Rain -at last!  Wonderful, life giving, refreshing rain at long last.  We finally had a reasonable rain -enough to actually do some good.  Everything seems to have turned green over night!  You could almost see the plants grinning and stretching out their leaves in sheer joy!

Of course this is a good time to do some weeding while the soil has some moisture in it and the weeds are fairly easy to pull.  I am currently rehearsing for a play called Trojan Women -a pretty demanding lead role too as Queen of stricken Troy after they have been defeated by the Greeks. ( The Trojan Horse stunt and all that!) So right now free time is scarce for weeding when line learning and rehearsals take up the bulk of my life outside work.  The show opens on October 5th but
hopefully though there will be time on Saturday to get some fresh air and relaxation in the garden and maybe take a picture or 2.  The cannas have done spectacularly well especially the gorgeous dark leaved Canna Australia and the variegated foliage version of Canna Stutgart giving splashes of eye-catching creamy bright l;ight to the shade area under the oak tree.

Naked Ladies!!

Now is the time to plant the beautiful fall blooming Lycoris species -we have the Red radiata, the pink, squamigera and even the more uncommon yellow aurea. They have a variety of names from Naked Ladies, spider Lily, surprise lily as they suddenly pop up on naked stems with the leaves tagging along later.  Whatever you call them, they are a reliable perennial for the south -they love those sunny spots and require little maintenance or even water! Just be sure not to plant too deeply

radio update

Well, we did the radio interview -a series of 3 actually.  Hopefully  I will get the links to those so you can tune in and listen to them on line. But first I must correct the spelling of Bob's name!  Bob Polomski the Clemson extension agent.  Abject apologies Bob.  It was fun though talking about getting out in the garden and all the marvellous bulbs available and also the fun and the healthful spin offs from having and creating a garden.  A garden really is an extension of you and your personality.  You take a lot of care to personalize your indoor rooms and it can be just as much fun to create those outside 'rooms' or areas.  Make a place to have a picnic or sit and unwind.  Follow a theme and then see what an avid collector you will become of say daffodils or hostas or lilies or choose a color theme like orange and purple for those tiger fans or black and garnet for South Carolina fans!!!

Planting bulbs

70 degrees today!  Unbelievable after the awful winter we have had this year.  What with endless frosty nights and SNOW.  Snow in South Carolina? Well, at least the bulbs have stayed in good condition and are ready to plant.  And was I ready for a day in the garden -oh my goodness, I couldn't wait to get out there today.  I planted 300 Pink Surprise hyacinths in the hosta garden and 100 Red Riding Hood tulips on the rock garden.  And some daffodils, alliums and white anemones too. But I go too fast, maybe a little background right now and then over time we can talk about planting bulbs en masse and our series of gardens (including my own 5 o' clock garden! Asian garden, white garden etc).  Anyway,  Marlboro Bulb is owned by 5 Dutchmen and run by Jack my husband -he is 4 th generation working in bulbs and was born in Holland so he knows his stuff. We basically wholesale flower bulbs.  Although we have fairly small quantities as a minimum, so garden clubs and individuals order from us too.  Our website is http://www.marlborobulb.com/ so check us out there.  Me? I am a Brit, so I guess I was born gardening and I like nothing better than to be out in the garden pottering and planting.  Keeps you fit and keeps you young and beautifies your home surroundings-what more can you ask from a  hobby?  You can always call and ask for ideas too or if you would like to come and see the garden in upstate South Carolina you only have to phone the office at 1-800-999-0567 and ask for Patricia and we will arrange  a time for you.  It is a relatively new garden  - not yet 4 years old and all done by hand with lots of sweat, thousands and thousands of bulbs and much loving care.  Interested?  Come back for more installments!