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Albemarle County, Central Virginia, flower farming, garden, home, life, sustainable living, Virginia
These images show a glimpse of what is blooming now at Swallowtail Cottage. The real challenge remains with capturing the essence of each flower…
Another face not seen in my inventory. I am thinking Thalia, based on the catalogue photograph, c. 1916
These tulips have survived for fifteen years here. Moved numerous times, they were inexpensive, yet provide dramatic, elegant color in the late March gardens. Greigii Queen Ingrid.
These two beauties are new to my gardens this spring. I must refer to Brent & Becky’s Bulbs catalogue to name names, as they quickly became a blur.
Last fall I converted all five raised beds from veggies to heirloom daffs and tulips. These two are newbies to Swallowtail Cottage. The white is Erlicheer, a sweet smelling heirloom; circa 1934.
Notice the cup of this miniature newbie…the delicate rounded edges…awesome! As I check my inventory, I do not see this one listed…can anyone identify?
This daffodil is so old nobody can identify it…they are prolific here and I am delighted to admit I rescued them…Any ideas? The white daff is Mount Hood, c. 1937.
This wild-child tulip’s name is Honeymoon. I may need to add more to my beds, as they sold immediately at market yesterday.
Although Mother Nature ruined the first day of the farmer’s market yesterday with cold and rain, these flowers brightened my day as I shivered in place. About one third of the stems came home, so sadly, what I don’t give away, will become compost…ah the life of a flower farmer…
Stay tuned for more images of my gardens. Afterall, home, garden, life is what it is all about.
Copyright © 2016 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
home, garden, life 
I just came upon your blog via Fine Gardening – oh, what a treat! A bit late for Spring bulbs, of course….but….come Autumn…..I see Honeymoon and Mt Hood in my garden’s future!
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Welcome aboard Musette. Glad that you found me. I invite you to click the “follow” button to explore more of my garden adventures. Diane
https://dianelasauce.wordpress.com
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What a beautiful part of your collection. I grew daffodils but couldn’t grow tulips in New Hampshire because of critters. Sorry to hear that you had bad weather for your opening market…hope it is better next week. We went to a market in the next town over this past Saturday and I bought just picked heirloom tomatoes among other things, they were so good.
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The second market was brutal…38 with heavy winds…chilled to the core by 10 AM. We had another 28F morning on Sunday…hopefully our last. Local orchards have lost entire peach/apple crops, as Mother Nature was in a foul mood this month. Damage done, now all we can do is recover the best that we can. Peonies and daffs appear unscathed.
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Mother Nature has not been very kind so far this spring, that’s terrible about the losses. The apples and pears in our orchard didn’t bloom until around Mother’s day each year. Luckily most of the killing frosts were over by then.
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What an interesting collection. I grow Thalia too and it is a great stunning flower. If you can get them try some of the cyclamineus hybrids. I don’t know what your un-named miniature is, but it is very pretty.
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Chris, I am working on the identity of all my daffs, and it appears some that I ordered last fall are imposters…hmmm. I will look for your suggestion.
28F here this AM so leaves of my maples, hostas, bleeding hearts, and many other specimens are wilted like cooked lettuce. The jury is still out on how the heirloom peonies were affected. More 20’s coming by the end of the week.
Fruit growers are busy with fans in their orchards during the night. Even the vineyard next door hired a helicopter to fly continuously all night over the vines.
Mother Nature is testing many of us in the US this year!
Happy gardening and always nice to hear from you! Diane
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Ms. LaSauce!
Delighted to now be receiving your posts in my inbox!! Thank You for posting these entries!
As far as id on the Narcissus:
I DO believe you’re correct on the name for the Pure White variety. I planted ‘Thalia” into my garden a few short years ago and it looks and performs like your pix.
(Multiple flowers/spike, classical form, etc. as well as comparing your pix with mine.) Purchased as a “set” from the local wholesale box store, they bloom at the same time as the Grape Hyacinths which were included in the set. (Just as the carton advertised, and since we’ve moved since that installation, this combo will be one I repeat on a massive scale in our New (to us) colourscape!)
You’ve two pix of the Thalia..one a beautifully quiet portrait, and the other in a blue vase with companions. I’m not sure what the smaller but equally cheerful friends are, but found this source while checking to see if’n they were Barret Browning…which they aren’t, me thinks.
http://daffnet.org/2015-georgia-daffodil-society-show-gds/
I reckon at the very least, these dedicated folk to your South may be able to help key out your other varieties!(And, perhaps a few of mine, too!!)
Looking forward to your next post!
Jesse at the edge (of the Ozarks.)
PS: Good and comforting to know I’m not the ONLY one who misplaces and forgets names, much to my future dismay!!
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Thanks for your comments Jesse. I await identification from Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, the supplier here in Virginia. Cheers!
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What an assortment you have. My goodness! They are all so lovely, but that wild child, “Honeymoon”, is truly amazing. It looks like frost prickles were captured on the edges of her petals. I can see why people were snatching them up – we do love seeing something new and different. 🙂
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Glad that you enjoyed my post Jeanne. Happy to cheer your spring!
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Those are wonderful. The rounded cups on the small yellow daff is wonderful. My favorites blooming now have white perianths and salmon-colored cups. No idea of their names……cheers
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Tim, Keeping track of names is an awesome task…especially the rescued bulbs…have rescued iris coming again in May, and no name there either. That is why posting photos is often helpful. I too planted a salmon cupped bulb last fall and its name is Chromacolor…you may find yours at http://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com. Their catalogue is awesome.
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Thanks! I know Chromacolor is one of them. I do have records somewhere…….
cheers.
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Gorgeous post!!
~sent via email from my friend P Allen Smith
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So much spring prettiness! The pictures sure brightened my day today. It is cold, rainy and very windy here. 💛🐝
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Glad to share. Weather crazy here too. Heavy winds, frost, then mild.
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Beautiful! I really love that fringed tulip. I would have bought a bunch, too. :o)
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Thanks for your comments!
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Your photos have reminded me of how lovely daffodils are, and how often taken for granted. The first photo is divine! I must look out for Thalia, as we are doing autumn bulb planting now. Sorry to hear about the bad weather…poor flowers. Good luck for future marketing days.
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Enjoy your season! Our spring is crazy wild. Weather is a roller coaster! At least no snow…Cheers!
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Sorry to hear your 1st. market day of the year was a rainout. Your flowers & photography are beautiful.. The Thalia & Honeymoon are extra special. I hope the weather cooperates & and you have good luck all season at the farmers market.. Joe
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Thanks Joe. I fixed the typos…Diane
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Thank you Diane,that was embarrassing. Joe
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