"madgardener" wrote:

"griffon" wrote in message
.. .
I really should not look at catalogs or sites that offer not to charge
my card until shipping season and which give you special offers for
ordering early.

At least I will finally have some Cyclamen in my garden. Namely:
coum, cilicium, and hederifolium which I bought quite a few of since
it was the only one I was certain about. I also bought three
varieties of lilies, which I am not understanding at the moment since
traditionally I am as far from being a lily fan as possible. Some
crocosmia, some oxalis, zephyranthus, lycoris... oh well. I keep
looking at other stuff too. I am already planning to be home two days
this week because it will be in the upper fifties and I want to move
some shrubs and things while they are still sleeping. I finally saw
some crocus greenery peeking above the mulch today, that made me quite
happy. I am anxious for something to bloom.


yep, that sounds like spring fever all right. It could be more serious
symptoms of perennial disease or garden obsessive impulsive syndrome. I
myself am still looking for a good twelve step program for my sticky pot
disease. It applies to catalogs too..........Now.....which crocosmia did
you order?

Lucifer, Emily McKenzie, Norwich Canary.

What kind of oxalis?

deppi 'Iron Cross', depressa, lasiandra, rubra. I already have some
of the 'Iron Cross' but I absolutely love that plant and so I am am
buying more. The oxalis seem to be good plants to stick in any little
blank spots that don't get too dry. I had some purple leaved/pink
blooming ones that my mother raised as houseplants for as long as I
could remember, I took some of those and stuck them in the garden and
they seemed quite happy.

Which color rain lilies? White, pink or yellow?

Pink. Grandiflora, I think.

As for the lilies, just remember to plant their feet in the shade
and their heads in the sun. You'll love them once they flower for you. I
adore mine and always want more of their sentinal presences jutting out of
my fairy gardens.

I have to figure out where exactly to plant them. I am frequently
visited by cats and let mine out some and supposedly lilies are one of
the poisonious plants that cats are more likely to nibble on. I say
supposedly since I read it online, so who knows. My cats do not
venture towards the road, thankfully, so perhaps out that way.
Although at least one of the varieties is pretty tall, so that might
be an issue sticking up several feet over a bunch of smaller plants.
I'll figure something out.

You have crocus leaves poking out of your mulch? What zone are you in?
(this is important in regards to hardiness of the Zepheranthes)

6b, right on the verge of 7. I don't have many crocus yet, two years
ago I bought a big bag of "early blooming crocus" at Lowe's or Home
Depot or somewhere and stuck them in little drifts under the pine bark
in front of my house where I have some japanese maples and evergreen
shrubs, it is some of those that are peeking out. Actually this
morning two yellow blooms had appeared, although yesterday I saw no
sign of buds. Funny how fast that happens. I also noticed that some
other things are sticking up. Probably some narcissus, I think.

Last fall I bought a bunch of species tulip and crocus bulbs this
fall, got sick and wasn't able to plant them, and then things kept
getting in the way. Finally planted them in the first few days of
January, but I have a bad feeling about most of them. That's about
$120 down the drain if they are all dead on me. I think this fall I
will order some stuff really early to make sure I can get it planted.
Becuase I really crave late fall and winter blooming things, when
everything else is dead. I want some saffron crocus and some other
fall-bloomers and will definately early-order some of those in the
fall. I actually bought all of the stuff last fall on a whim, when
someone here was talking about Bulbmeister having everything on sale.
There was a lot of selection left considering how late it was.

As for that Zeph, I will plant part of them on the south side of the
house and see how they do there with a thick mulch. Put the others in
a container and bring them into the garage or something for winter, or
lift them, whatever. I'll have to see what some sites suggest later
on.

I have snowdrops myself

I bought some of those last fall too, no sign of them either. Dead, I
am guessing. Some of this stuff might just wait till next year to
show up, but some of it was looking dry and/or sprouting by the time I
was able to plant it.

and some of the older narcissus not only have leaves but
have little pointy headed buds tucked tight against the leaves too. Yes,
Spring is on her way. I have already started the spring clean-up of my
gardens way too soon. I have green spikes scattered all thru my beds from
the irises new leaves, and my Hellebore are shoving fists of burgandy green
wrapped buds from between the new leaf shoots that will replace last years
protective patrons. Once the new leaves have estabilished themselves I will
cut them off to make room for the newer ones to shelter the buds.

You deffinately have the disease Griphon. But what a wonderful disease it
is g

Keep us posted on your gardens, it's always nice to hear about someones
endeavors of happiness.

madgardener up on the ridge, back in Fairy Holler overlooking English
Mountain in Eastern Tennessee, zone 7, Sunset zone 36

I have seen some new iris leaves popping up as well. And to remind me
spring is just around the corner, we have our first shot at severe
weather later this week (been in the 40s everyday, now it is going to
hit the low 70s so tornado season is on the way). I worked outside
today and did some cleaning up, also moved a huge pyrancthea (sp?)
that was "temporarily" planted next to the house, proceeded to grow to
twenty feet tall trying to find the sun, and generally looked quite
ugly. I hate the thorns and unless it produces a lot more berries in
it's new home, I think it will find it's way to the compost heap. I
replaced it with a vine maple, which should be happy in the partially
shaded location. I intend to use most of the week moving and
cleaning. I planted a bunch of shrubs in one area that was basically
a temporary home for whatever struck my fancy but I had no place
picked out for, and those shrubs are getting bigger all the time... so
that should keep me busy.