With bulb catalogs appearing in our mailboxes and high temperatures precluding gardening for much of the day many of us are no doubt dreaming of the spectacular flowers that we will be growing next year.

These bulbs will grow in the more moderate climates of the Owens Valley, and also in higher elevations such as Mammoth where they live quite happily under the winter snow and will burst into flower as soon as light reaches them. They are unlikely to do well in hot desert areas even with irrigation. Plant them as soon as you can since they should not dry out, and they begin to put out new roots in early fall.

As with all bulbs it is important to remove dead flowers before seeds begin to grow, but leave the foliage on the plant until it has completely died down, because after flowering the leaves provide food for the bulb to enable it to flower the following year.  

Bulbs look best if planted among other plants, rather than poking up in patches of bare soil. If bulbs are planted among other perennials it is possible to disguise the dying foliage by carefully planning how you plant. I have a large hardy geranium which is generally floppy and emerges after crocuses have finished flowering and so covers that foliage and gives them some extra shade in the hottest part of the year.

Unfortunately some species of bulbs are very attractive to gophers and ground squirrels so if you live in an area that is also home to these animals it pays to plant the bulbs in wire cages.

About Specific Bulbs

Narcissus: Daffodils are hardy and live for years making increasingly large clumps, and are generally left alone by deer and gophers. They come in an enormous range of heights, shapes and colors including pink and white as well as the better known yellows. Pink trumpeted daffodils do tend to lose their pink coloration in hot sun. Some are strongly perfumed with several smaller flowers on a stem, while others have only one flower with a large trumpet. Different varieties bloom at differing times from February to early May.

It pays to put some thought into what you choose, and where you plant them. They do need amended soil in our sandy areas, and shade from the hottest sun with adequate water during the growing season beginning after planting in late summer or fall and including some months after flowering which is when they are building up their bulbs for the following year. I have found blooms on late flowering varieties often get dried up by a spell of hot weather and their flowers tend not to last as long as those that bloom earlier. If you live in a windy area the taller, large trumped daffodils may not hold up as well as some of the shorter- stemmed varieties such as Jetfire or Tete-a-Tete. Often bargain bags of mixed varieties are available but the downside to these is that they do not bloom at the same time so the early ones look sparse while the later ones are blooming amidst the dying foliage of those that have already bloomed!  Best results are obtained if they are planted as soon as they are available and in warmer climates they seem to do better if they are planted a little deeper than usual – about 8” for the larger ones and a little less for the smaller bulbs.

Muscari: Grape hyacinths are hardy, reliable and their blooms provide early nectar and are beloved by domestic bees. Most varieties grow about 6”-8” tall so are good for edging. There are several different types and although M.armeniacum is the most commonly grown cobalt blue color M. botryoides album is white, M. 'Valerie Finnis' is a beautiful light blue, and there is even a pink version M. 'Pink Sunrise'. Dappled shade is best with regular water during the growing season until after the foliage has died down. These will also grow in Mammoth. Plant about 5” deep.

 

Crocus: Species or Botanical crocus have numerous smaller flowers in colors ranging from pure white, yellow, orange and purple. Planted in masses they can add a tremendous splash of color to the early garden, and on warm days bees love working their flowers which open in the sun although as with other spring bulbs they appreciate dappled shade during the growing season.

The other main type of crocus are the Dutch or Large Flowering types which can reach up to 5” but generally have fewer flowers per corm. They come in similar colors to those of the Species types. They grow in USDA Zones 4-8 but won't naturalize where winters are warm. Plant species crocuses about 4” deep and the larger ones an inch deeper.

Chelsea Flower Show is England's premier showcase for horticultural endeavors. It features several show gardens designed by top designers, extraordinary displays by many specialist nurseries, trade stands selling a vast array of tools and gadgets, outstanding sculptures, paintings, exquisite embroidery, garden clothing and, of course, plants. There are hundreds of exhibitors.

Vibrant delphiniums and begonias

Daffodil display

Proteas from South Africa

The center of the show is the Great Pavilion and to enter it is a truly jaw dropping experience. There are dozens of displays by nurseries from all over Britain and the rest of the world and every one is absolutely stunning. Some depict the traditional cottage garden with a mix of representative flowers, while others are dedicated to one particular specialty such as gladioli, carnivorous plants, hostas, house plants, vegetables, proteas, cacti or bonsai. Each of the thousands of plants and blooms is a perfect specimen! Stands of spring-flowering daffodils shown at their peak and autumn-flowering chrysanthemums are a testament to the skills that growers have in manipulating flowering times. There were educational displays on such topics as creating children's gardens, and one which detailed the results of genetic research on snapdragons growing wild in the European Alps. And then there are the spectacular floristry displays.

Full sized azaleas

Alliums carefully graded for height and size

Alpines in classic stone sinks

Look at the size of the leeks!

Outside of the Pavilion around the edge of the exhibition site are the 26 show gardens, each designed by a top designer and featuring different themes such as female-led, climate-smart agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa, a Finnish garden, and one based on a Japanese herbal garden. English gardens also loomed large, such as one designed for a disused quarry site, one based on the canals of northern England, a garden designed for children in hospice care, and just too many others to mention here.

This link takes you on a tour of these gardens: http://rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/Gardens

Steer made from chain

Some of the sculptures displayed were very imaginative, especially those made from driftwood, but I was particularly drawn to a huge metal foxglove about 10 feet high, and also some metal kinetic sculptures of maple seeds and ginkgo leaves.

flower displays around Sloan Street (2)

The shopping area had a magnificent array of tempting things to buy, but the constraints of my luggage on the airline kept my spending in check. I did however succumb to a new and very splendid garden trowel with a 75 year guarantee. After all, one can never have too many trowels!

Outside the show grounds many of the local shops had decked out their doorways with ebullient swags of fresh flowers.

As a child I attended Chelsea flower show annually but it is now fifty-five years since I was last there, and it did not let me down. The sheer magnificence, elegance and beauty of the whole experience will never be forgotten. 

Now back to reality - the challenges of growing in a California high desert garden!

National Pollinator Week is June 18 to 24^,, 2018.

What better way to celebrate and support the importance of pollinators than to plant a pollinator garden?   Even a few plants can help support pollinators such as butterflies, beetles, and bees.  

Butterflies and other pollinators are very sensitive to pesticides so avoid using them in your garden. Insecticides kill insects, so if you want butterflies, don't use insecticides. If you do feel you have to use an insecticide, even an organic one, always use minimally. Do not apply when butterflies, bees or other pollinators are active and do not apply to open flowers.

To attract butterflies, provide good food, water and shelter all from a butterfly's point of view.   Here are some tips to encourage butterflies to visit your garden.

Minimize pesticide use.   Encouraging natural pest predators and using other alternative controls will make your garden safer for butterflies and their caterpillars. 

Pick a sunny site.   Butterflies generally feed in sunny locations. Choose a place in the garden that receives about six hours of sun each day.   Gravel walkways and rocks for basking are good places to watch for butterflies warming up.

Choose plants they can use. Adults need nectar, caterpillars need to munch.   Plant a variety of different types of flowers. Larger butterflies find it easier to get nectar from flowers with a landing pad, like a daisy, that they can stand on. Old fashioned varieties of flowers are often good nectar sources and herbs such as dill, fennel, rosemary and lavender attract butterflies. Plant for bloom succession so that there are some flowers blooming all season.

 Plan the layout of your plants. Plant in groups of the same flowers rather than individual plants of the same kind scattered in the garden. This works because butterflies are near sighted and masses of flowers two or three feet across attract butterflies from a distance. Choosing plants of different heights adds interest to the garden and helps attract more pollinators.

Add native plants to your garden.   Many native plants have good sources of nectar, and also are host plants that butterflies seek out to lay eggs.   Research has shown that local native pollinators prefer local native plants.   Please remember not to cut your garden back severely in the fall or you may lose overwintering eggs for the next season.

Add some water.   The easiest way for butterflies to drink is from a puddle so that they don't get too wet. A muddy spot, a low dish, or plant saucer filled with sand and rocks and with water added to keep the sand moist will work. Butterflies also get important nutrients from wet ground. Be careful not to leave out standing water that will breed mosquitoes.

Provide shelter.   On a rainy day or in high winds, butterflies wait out the bad weather on the undersides of leaves, in trees, shrubs, or vines. They also take butterfly breaks during their day; provide them places to hide with a combination of sites to roost and shelter.

 

For inspiration and information our local chapter of California Native Plant Society has created excellent resources for anyone to use.   They have posted photos and lists of native plants with information, including a new two page Native Landscape Planting Guide. There is information on pollinators, water use, color descriptions and more.  

Please remember it is both illegal and destructive to remove plants and flowers from their natural habitats but our local CNPS chapter has a plant sale every year and lots of great information on their website.    Also, many nurseries are now carrying more native plants, be sure to ask.  

References and further information:

CNPS Bristlecone chapter   http://bristleconecnps.org

California Native Plant Society plant information www.Calscape.org

Art Shapiro's Butterfly Site   http://butterfly.ucdavis.edu

Pollinator.org   http://pollinator.org

National Wildlife Federation https://www.nwf.org

Xerces Society   https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/plant-lists/pollinator-plants-california/

How red poppies became associated with fallen soldiers:

John McCrae was born in Canada in 1872 and was a successful poet, physician, artist, and author. He served in the Boar War (1899-1902) and quickly became disillusioned about the cost of war in human lives. When England declared war against Germany at the onset of WWI, Canada quickly followed. Dr. McCrae offered his services as a doctor. In May 2, 1915 his close friend Alexis Helmer was killed by a German shell. The next day Dr McCrae looked over at a makeshift cemetery near Flanders, Belgium and noted the red poppies blooming among the simple white crosses. This moved him to write a poem, “In Flanders Fields” which instantly struck a chord and became a rallying post for events such fundraising and rallies following its publication by Punch Magazine in England in December 1915.

It was published in America in Ladies Home Journal in November 1918. Unfortunately, John McCrae had succumbed to pneumonia in France on January 28, 1918.

The inspirational poem may have faded into poetry books if not for an amazing young teacher from a small town in Georgia. Moina Michael came across the poem in Ladies Home Journal and believed it to be the symbol to commemorate fallen soldiers. She campaigned tirelessly, as a result, within three years the poppy became the symbol or remembrance.   Sales of paper poppies have raised millions of dollars for ex-servicemen and –women in many countries around the world.

The Flanders poppy is botanically Papaver rhoeas and is an intense red. It is a common wildflower in many areas of Europe, growing cheerfully around the borders of wheat fields. This wild version seldom grows much more than 1ft. high, but now many hybrids in a wide variety of colors have been developed and these can readily reach 2-3ft tall under ideal conditions. As a garden plant the poppy is best direct sown from seed during the fall. It does not transplant well. Flowers will appear the next spring. It likes full sun and regular, but not excessive water.

 

Adapted with permission from "Of Naked Ladies and Forget-Me-Nots" by Allan M. Artimage

For more about growing these and other varieties of poppies check out: http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=24149