Friday, March 18, 2011

Daffodil Love in Tiger Gardens

From In the Garden
We here at Tiger Gardens are inundated with daffodils! Tis the season indeed. I started with a few-honest! A few 'Ice Follies' here and there, a few 'Tete a Tetes' here and there and before you know it I had a lot of daffodils. What else could I do but divide them and spread them around a bit? After a few years of spreading the bulbs around (about 6) I now have bunches and bunches of daffodil blooms.
From In the Garden
It really did not take a long time to build up a LOT of daffodils. Not long at all in the grand scheme of things. I think I first started planting seven years ago. I initially started with about 100 of these 'Ice Follies' daffodils. Guesstimating that there are about 70 daffodils per three square foot section, with the river being about 95 feet long I thing there are about 2100 daffodils in this 'river'!
From In the Garden
I always enjoy these daffodils. They are the only daffodils planted in the grass in my lawn at my house. I do have one other stand of 'Tete a Tete's planted in the grass along side the road (picture below) as well but I tolerate these so much better than the 'Ice Follies' stand in my lawn I show you in the above pictures. You see, I won't mow this area of the lawn until late May and oh dear, do the weeds ever love the break! I don't like having the weeds in the grass, but if I wish to appreciate these lovely daffodils each year I must leave the foliage in place to ripen so that the blooms will come again.
From In the Garden
'Tete a Tete' daffodils are the next most prevalent daffodils here at Tiger Gardens. I have them lining beds in shade gardens such as you see here along the deck. I must say 'Tete a Tetes' are one of the best naturalizing daffodils for shade gardens. Even though most of my trees lose their leaves in the winter so the daffodils do get some sun, the shade from buildings and those bare trees decreases the sun reaching my shade gardens quite a bit so conditions are not ideal for bulbs. Especially when the sun is at its lowest in the sky. But for some crazy reason these little daffodils grow and bloom and multiply each year. This edging was recently divided and replanted and that is why it looks so bare. Just wait, next year the amount of blooms will have tripled.
From In the Garden
Here we have 'Tete a tete' daffodils blooming outside of my garden fence and Roadside Shrub Border alongside my busy road. Two years ago when this hillside was dug up in order for our local water company to install a new water pipe I planted these daffodils; courtesy of the project manager on the water pipe install. His name was Chip and he made quite an impression on me. A few houses down the road (I won't say where) there were what seemed like thousands of these daffodils right smack dab in the middle of the water pipe install. Given that the water pipe had to be dug into the ground four feet deep and given that the contractors (Chip included) could not possibly remove all of these daffodils safely and replant them Chip offered the daffodils to me. Of course I jumped on it. I was planting daffodils for days and days and am finally seeing the result. When Chip initially dug up these daffodils they were overcrowded and declining. I gave them all a good home with a dose of bulb fertilizer and finally after two years they are giving me a show. Next year it should get even better. As an after note because I know you all are wondering, the homeowner did not mind the relocation of these daffodils. They have since moved on but I like to think that the original planter of all these bulbs will be happy the bulbs are happy in their new home.
From In the Garden
This is one of the visible roadside gardens. Here we have a mix of the 'Tete a Tetes', 'Ice Follies' and other large trumpet daffodils, probably 'King Alfred'. A friend pulled in the other day and commented on my 'Yellow and White' garden. It sure is looking that way.
From In the Garden
Another rear garden with large yellow trumpet daffodils. I don't know the cultivar but I'd lay money on 'King Alfred'. I bought most of these daffodils as mark downs. I divide the clumps each year and most of the clumps in this garden were just divided last week. If this is 'King Alfred' I must say it is a cultivar that does fairly well in the shade too. Shade is the name of the game here at Tiger Gardens. Sometimes shade can be so frustrating but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Note the 'river' in the lawn behind this garden? All of my daffodils in the garden proper are in gardens except for this river of 'Ice Follies'. Have I mentioned I don't like bulbs in the lawn? Actually I think bulbs do much better when grown in lawns than when grown in mulched gardens. At least I don't have to worry about digging these bulbs up and the voles won't loosen the soil around them like they do in the mulched garden beds. Voles do not eat daffodil bulbs but eat just about everything else growing nearby thereby creating tunnels and making air spaces in the soil.
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Here is another small garden in the shade out front. Just to the left of this bed and inset in this bed is a patio I am currently working on. It's a big job and I've been so tied up with dividing daffodils and plants like hostas and daylilies as well as installing my almost 200 foot long fence that I have not been able to get to this patio. I hate having unfinished projects but sometimes I have to pace myself.











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A long shot of the back bed of daffodils taken from the deck.




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Front Center Garden, North side.


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Front Foundation Gardens




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And finally, one more lovely little daffodil....




in the garden....


I would've posted more pictures but I finally ran out of Picasa photo space so I have had to begin uploading pictures to Flickr, a whole new ballgame for me. I'm quitting while I am ahead today before something really goes wrong. We'll see how I do in the future. 


Any daffodils in your garden this spring? 

Word and photos property of In the Garden Blog team. 

29 comments:

  1. Holy Toledo! I want to swim in that river. So, beautiful...and I love that winding road outside of your garden....thanks for the plant ID....johnny on the spot this morning aren't you?

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  2. Wow. I'm inspressed with your river and mountains of daffodils. I've planted some but this famous "Naturalizing" process seems to elude my efforts to get them to spread.

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  3. Good morning all! A wonderful day in the US indeed.

    Darla, Yup, I'm up waaay too early this morning. I always appreciate it when folks tell me little things about what they like with the pictures. Never would've thought someone would like this road but now that I look at it, it's not so bad. Just busy and noisy. Swimming soon!

    Troutbirder, Not all daffodils naturalize easily. I like the older varieties for it and especially love 'Ice Follies' and 'Tete a tete'. Not sure if you've tried them but if not you might have some luck.

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  4. I do have daffodils. They are the happiest little flower. However, I don't have nearly as many as you do. Hopefully, in a few years I will! Carla

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  5. Great posting and great collection of daffodils!! I especially like the long shot photo of the pond in the background. Oh, and the Tete-a-tete with the King Alfred, looks like a child with a parent. Very cute!

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  6. Beautiful, beautiful! I've never divided any of my daffodils, but seeing all of these, I realize I ought to get busy this year, Tina. I did notice a few buds on my daffodils yesterday, so it won't be long now.

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  7. Tina, you have encouraged me to Divide and Conquer! I love daffys as they say spring and bring me out of my winter funk each year! If I had as many as you, I would be smiling for a long time girl. When is the best time to divide the bulbs?

    Calling for 87 degrees tomorrow and I WILL be on the lake!!!

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  8. I have daffodils, but nothing like this! Wow Tina--your blooms are breathtaking!

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  9. Carla, It does not take long to make a ton of daffys and they are so wonderful.

    Janet, At first I thought I might move the the tete a tetes up and have the taller ones in the background but you know, those tete a tetes make a fabulous groundcover under the taller daffys so they are staying. That pond is a real treat. Our backyard deck view and we spend a lot of time there. Wish it was my pond.

    Rose, It is so rewarding to divide daffodils and they just continue to give. I have had to rotate where I divide here as it gets overwhelming but once you start-you just want to do more.

    Skeeter, Divide and conquer indeed gal! It's so easy. I think the best time to divide daffodils is whenever you have the time. That being said I've done it prior to bloom (no ill effects and it still blooms), during bloom (you will lose the blooms), and after bloom (no ill effect). So really it is up to you but if you wish to enjoy blooms divide them before or after bloom depending on you. Sometimes it's best to wait and check the color or variety but it all depends. Just give them all a pinch of bulb fertilizer or bone meal (not where dogs are though).

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  10. Linda, Thanks so much! These bulbs are the bulbs that keep on giving and so easy to make more. That is what I have done and I find yearly it just gets bigger and bigger. Soon the whole yard might be covered-not my desire though. lol

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  11. Man I need more daffodils especially the 'Tete a Tetes." I have just a few from a mixed bag of bulbs. I bet people love driving along that road and seeing all those daffodils. Just beautiful. You have been very dilegent about dividing and spreading them around. It's paid off.

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  12. You're giving me daffodil envy ~ the more daffodils, the more beautiful they are, and you have wonderful displays of them. You have a beautiful view out onto your neighbor's pasture too.

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  13. GOSS, Thanks! Tete a tetes are wonderful and go anywhere. Yes, I think every one who drives by notices at one time or another. I've had some folks actually stop by and others don't comment unless we meet sometime. Recently that happened with a neighbor. He raked two truckfuls of pine needles and I went and asked him what he was going to do with them. He looked at me and said do you want them for your garden? I'll bring them over and you have nice gardens. I never knew this before as folks around here are not all that sociable or I might say this is not the kind of area where neighbors talk over the fence and walk around and socialize. I am always happy to hear folks appreciate the gardens and flowers. One more thing, check for tete a tetes on sale and markdown at the end of the season.

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  14. Jestes miłośnikiem żonkili, widać to po ilości kwitnących kwiatów. To piękne kwiaty i nie dziwię Ci się ilościa, jeśli masz na to miejsce. Pozdrawiam

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  15. Hi Giga, Yes, I do indeed love daffodils-running out of room soon though as you can see but such is life.

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  16. Hurray for daffodils! Mine are at least up a couple of inches, but we're a ways from blooms yet. Happily, other dedicated plants are doing their bloomin' thing, indoors and out. Spring is really coming.

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  17. I love daffys and your yard is just stunning for sure!!!!

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  18. I love that river of Daffs, so pretty. You got an impressive amount of these spring bloomers. :)

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  19. Think you break the record for the most daffodils.
    Love the mass planting,edging and scattered plantings.
    Still waiting for my few to show up.

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  20. Tina, That's a beautiful river of daffs! Idneed to divide and feed mine they've gotten crowded and stopped making buds~It's time. I might make a river like yours! gail

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  21. These daffodils make me feel so good in this time of hardship. I'd think flowers are a big present from God. I love the hillside where lots of doffodils are in bloom. Really lovely! Thank you, tina for this soothing post.

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  22. Amazing display! Looks fabulous--everywhere, from all angles!

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  23. Wow! So many daffodils. Mine are teeny tiny clumps and I won't let anyone pick them because then there would be none left outside. You could pick bouquets of them. I love seeing the longshots of your garden. Such a pretty setting with the cow pastures and pond in the background.

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  24. A really pretty selection of daffodils in your garden and some lovely photos too.

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  25. Hi Tina, you asked about the Sweetshrub ~ yes that's Calycanthus florida.

    I don't know how close Sunlight Gardens is to you, but they're an excellent mail order company and I've been very pleased with the azaleas that I've received from them.

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  26. Hello all.
    Tina I love your Daffy's. Mine have bloomed already even the ones you sent me. Thanks a million. I love those yellow ones with the orange/red cup. What is it's name? I too love the pic with the pond in background.
    I use to look for Daffy's along the road side when traveling up home yrs ago. Always a pleasure to see them.
    Planting veggies {root type} tomorrow. Busy, busy, busy.

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  27. I can't imagine gardening without daffodils, and yours are lovely.

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  28. No Daffodils here :( Because they might not grow here (not sure) and because we don't get it here :D
    What a river of daffodils you have there!!!!! Tiger Gardens must look lovely this time of the year! Great, Tina!

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  29. You have literally 'tons and tons' of daffodils;-) My favorite shot is with the beautiful farmland in the background...wow, that's gorgeous scenery! I need more varieties of narcissus to add to my very limited collection! In the fall I'm planning to add some. Happy Spring!

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