Other bulbs

Unlike the tulips, the rest of the bulbs that I planted seemed to do ok (although I never saw the Allium...). These were taken on May 4th:

Blue Bells

Baby Moon Daffodils

Happy!

2 out of 50

Well, of the 50 tulip bulbs I planted last year only 2 survived and grew.

Sad.

I'm not sure what happened, but I think it might have been an animal that ate them. I noticed what looked like mole tunnels around it not long after I planted them. I haven't checked to see if any of the bulbs are still down there and just didn't come up.

The University of Illinois Extension has this to say about animals eating bulbs:

How can I keep squirrels or moles from eating bulbs?

Bulbs are not usually a preferred food of squirrels, moles, mice or other rodents, but they can take a liking to them. Moles are often unfairly blamed when bulbs disappear. More often, the culprit is field mice that also use mole tunnels. They most often attack tulips, crocus and gladioli and rarely eat daffodils, alliums or colchicums.

The mouse problem is a difficult one. Sprinkling dried blood, tobacco or a similar repellent on the ground is effective only until the next rain washes it away. Owning a cat that enjoys walking through your flower beds is a very effective deterrent to rodents.

Where you are determined to try bulbs, make a small "cage" of 1/2-inch mesh screen. Place several bulbs inside, root plate down and bury the entire cage at the proper depth. Rodents won't be able to chew through, but roots and stems can grow out.

Oh well.

(Note: this is a back-post, posted on 5/22/12)

Calum Memorial Garden is in bloom

Since we purchased most of the flowers for it in spring last year, the garden is mostly filled with spring-time bloomers, so here are some photos taken yesterday:

Bleeding hearts

Bleeding hearts

Tiarella

Tiarella

Jacob's Ladder

Epimedium

The woodland phlox still hasn't quite bloomed yet, but has some buds.

These painted ferns aren't part of the Calum memorial garden per say, but are close by (and they're just so cool looking):

Japanese painted fern

Japanese painted fern

Crocuses are blooming

The crocuses I planted last December are now blooming. Interestingly, this occurred later than the daffodils in other areas of our yard (except for the new ones I planted in Dec). I could be wrong, but I thought that typically it's the other way around, so I'm not sure why that is. Well, I guess if you compare them to the daffodils I just planted with them, they are blooming before them, so I'm not sure why the ones I just planted are coming up later. Perhaps because I just planted them, or maybe because I planted them late. I sure don't know (as usual, please fill me in if you do!). Here are a few photos:

Crocuses in bloom

Some of the tulips are starting to come up, too:

Tulip sprouting

Yay!

Fourth bloom

Our hybrid tea rose bush planted back in April is in bloom yet again. I believe this is the fourth time this summer. Each time I am in awe of their beautiful colors, and am so glad that it's doing well where we planted it.

Rose bush is in bloom!

All three rose buds have finally bloomed! And the blooms are absolutely beautiful. The color is absolutely stunning. See for yourself:

Crescendo rose blossom

If only something didn't take bites out of the bud before it bloomed. I don't know what it was, but I did find a bristly rose slug on one once...

Pachysandra in bloom

I noticed the pachysandra were blooming and took a few photographs of them.