The First Bulbs Are Planted For Flowering In 2016

2885 Bulbs

This year's bulb ordered arrived mid September and have been stored in a cool, dark shed since then waiting to be planted. This autumn the team will plant 2885 bulbs in the garden starting with 10 Eremurus 'White Beauty' (Foxtail Lily).

Eremurus or Giant Spiders?

The Eremurus were taken to the part of the garden known as the goldfish bowl for planting in one of the three borders. The bulbs have an unusual shape, like giant spiders or jellyfish out of water, long fleshy, tuberous roots fanning out from the crown. 

Eremurus In Shallow Holes

Six shallow holes were dug in the well drained soil, a thin layer of horticultural grit placed in the bottom, the bulbs placed on top of the grit and covered in soil. Next summer tall, majestic white flower spikes will soar above the lower planting below them.

Planting Daffodils Around The Hornbeam

Having planted the Eremurus, Danny and Ali were joined by Simon in the Provost's garden to plant 300 Narcissus 'Thalia', a pure white, multi-headed, rather elegant flowered daffodil. The site chosen, a sunny spot around a Hornbeam, Carpinus betulus.

200 Tulips Bulbs, National Velvet and China Pink

With the daffodils planted next came the first of the tulips, 200 for planting in the orchard, Tulipa National Velvet and China Pink, to add to the previous years planting. Tipped in to a trug and mixed up, the tulips were planted in the grass in singles, twos and threes, the combinations of the deep velvet red and pink will be unknown until April when they flower beneath the apple blossom.   

Planting In The Orchard

The bulb planting will continue over the next 4-6 week in the borders, grass and containers until all 2885 have been planted.
The bulbs planting list for this year: Tulip Angelique, Attila, Black Hero, Black Parrot, Candela, China Pink, City Of Vancouver, Irene Parrot, Jan Reus, Menton, National Velvet, Queen of the Night, Shirley, Spring Green, Sun Lover, White Marvel and Cum Laude; Eremurus 'White Beauty'; Narcissus 'Thalia'; Cyclamen persicum; Camassia leichtlinii 'Caerulea'; Allium 'Purple Sensation'; Iris reticulata 'J.S. Dijt'; Fritillaria meleagris and Fritillaria imperialis 'Aurora'.