by James Alexander-Sinclair
One of the most important jobs at this time of year [...] can be done very easily wearing quite inappropriate footwear and clutching a glass of something.
One of the most important jobs at this time of year does not involve anything particularly energetic or creative. It does not require you to rush to the garden centre, lug large bags of anything, get even slightly dirty or even break a sweat. On the contrary it is job that can be done very easily wearing quite inappropriate footwear and clutching a glass of something.
Go out and look at your bulbs.
Not just in a spirit of admiration but also to note which ones have done well, which have failed and where there are not enough, because I bet you a shiny 20p piece that in a couple of weeks, when they have died back and other things have doubled in size, that you will have completely forgotten.
I plant a lot of bulbs every year for various clients — last autumn I had about 20,000 — so I try to visit as many of them as possible at this time of year. This is partly to see the fruits of all that labour, but also to make notes ready for the next planting season in autumn. Generally, as my family will happily tell you, I am rather inefficient and habitually unpunctual but I really try very hard to get this bit right. Otherwise come November we find ourselves disturbing existing bulbs or, worse still, planting the wrong colours in the right places.
So far this year only one major disaster has come to light. Due to a mix up in the bulb warehouse, a batch of tulips that should have been pure white Tulipa 'Purissima' turned out to be unidentified huge-flowered red things, which do not agree at all with the neighbouring pink and dark purple varieties. Now we have to quickly dig out the offending items before they retreat underground into dormancy.
Those of you who read this blog regularly might remember the post I wrote about tulips nearly two years ago (if you do then you have admirable memories and I am terribly grateful). This year I have a few extras to add to my list of favourites.
T. 'Doll's Minuet': startling pink.
T. 'Burgundy': quite a small flower but a gorgeous colour - like sultry beetroot.
T. 'Flaming Spring Green': like normal 'Spring Green' but with crimson 'go-faster stripes'.
T. 'Paul Scheerer': a really good dark purple.
T. 'Ballerina': I know I mentioned this one before but I love this picture and this tulip. It smells of orange boiled sweets.
So quickly get out there, take some pictures and write notes or this time next year you'll be kicking yourselves.
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