IN THE GARDEN NEWS POSTS

• GLORIOSA LILIES
• DAFF-A-PALOOZA

The very definition of "easy to grow" - these these beauties grow from rhizomes that send up 4-6 foot tall stems with tendrils that will cling to small twigs or decorative trellis. They flower all summer and into the early fall - and they can be planted as soon temperatures turn mild and there is no danger of frost.

I grow mine in pots. When the plants are finished blooming and turn yellow in the fall, I cut the stems off and carefully remove the rhizomes - which have often doubled in size - then pack in a box with slightly damp coir I buy from Gardener's Supply. The box goes into the chilly room where I over-winter my potted lemon trees and rosemary.

The ones featured here grew into from very large, healthy rhizomes I ordered from Easy to Grow Bulbs (who also provide excellent growing info on their website). Smaller rhizomes (like those sold at box stores) will grow just 2-3 feet tall their first year.

 I love daffs of all types but I’m especially smitten with the smaller ones and those that fill the air with a glorious fragrance.    

The gallery below features some of my favorite little ones – plus a new-to-me gorgeous, gigantic beauty, ‘Marieke’ that I have fallen in love with this year. If you would like to add some of these to your garden,  my favorite sources for bulbs are Brent & Becky's  (daffodils specialists whose paper catalog provides excellent  and more detailed information for each of their bulbs than they put on their website) and John Scheepers. 

Two of the very first flowers to bloom in our garden every year are "Little Beauty" and "Tete a Tete".  Then ‘Jetfire’ with it’s swept back “wings” and orange trumpet opens followed very soon by a parade of others, including the flamboyant little wild child, 'Rip Van Winkle'.