It’s peak tulip time. For me it’s probably two weeks earlier than normal. Or maybe it just feels like that after such a wet and miserable Autumn and Winter. Wet ~ the ground in the garden has been saturated for months. So wet in a different climate we could grow rice. The garden is a dreary place when it’s so wet , but it has been unseasonably mild. Few frosts and none I can think of as being harsh.

But the joy of the spring season for me is tulip time. The planning back in September of the colours, the varieties has long been forgotten. The planting plan carefully considered back in November written down by pot number ~ there are 15 large pots to consider for Pitcombe – not as many for London. The planting plan roughly adhered to for the five minutes and then it’s abandoned.

But whatever the colours it makes me happy. Some years happier than others. Some years planting is loud. This year I think it’s a bit more subdued. Not so many oranges. Which reminds me. Where are the ballerina ~ tulips not actual ballerinas ~ that I planted.

Next year maybe it will be just one colour. Different shapes. Different shades. Big and bold. Maybe not.

In the words of the late Larry Grayson ‘shut that door’ . You can tell I’m no influencer with perfect posts and photos. I would have staged it better and shut the door. The pots are at the front of the stone cottages and as it was once two separate there are two front doors.

When I order the bulbs back in September it’s a mix of what I may have planted previously if I really like them and they perform well. The front of the cottage gets mid morning sun and is in shade for the afternoon. In a way that’s perfect and the flowering seems to last longer. They open beautifully but aren’t open all day as they would be if planted at the back of the cottage. I generally don’t plant bulbs in the back garden as it’s too wet. Great soil but it’s next to the river and when it’s wet. It’s wet.

I seem to add Brown sugar ~ for avoidance of doubt the tulip not actual sugar, I may be a bit bonkers but ~ to the mix most years. It’s a glorious tall strong stemmed in a gorgeous colour. And it also has a bit of a scent. You do need to get up close and personal and shove your nose in to get the scent but it’s worth it. Although on a really warm still day you do get a whiff.

A new one this year which is better than I thought it would be is Tulip Spryng break. The description from Peter Nysen is spot on. ‘Shades of red, white, pink and yellow. Tulip Spryng Break is a beautiful chameleon tulip, the colours will change almost daily as the flower matures for the white flamed red to white flamed rose to fuchsia pink with a soft yellow base in the inside ‘.

I wasn’t sure when I ordered it but it’s definitely a stand out this year in the pots. Each flower looks different.

I am not a great labeller. To be honest I’m rubbish and I keep saying this year and this year has been no exception. I’m still rubbish. The generosity of friends and of Karen at Peter Nyssen continue to tell me what I don’t know. Names.

Like this one. So far still unknown but very pretty.

Another new one this year which reminds me of the Honka Dahlias is tulip Go Go red and it’s had the Ian seal of approval. I like it as it’s unusual ~ maybe I’d like it a bit bigger. A bit more blousey. But it will be grown again.

One of the earlier ones to come out was tulip Tulip ‘Mystic van Eijk’. I’ve not grown it before but definitely will again. It’s tall. Has withstood the wind and is a really pretty colour. A lot of people have stopped and asked what it is.

More cottage views

Views from 3/4

I like to check out tulips that I haven’t grown or haven’t seen growing. Usually I plant a few in a pot just to see if I like them. This year I have just planted them in pots. One that I will grow again next year is Tulip Green mile. A funky looking bud before it opens and a treat when it does. Green with some yellow and is another new one that I will use again.

Talking of yellow ~ this is one that’s pretty. Frilly. Yellow ~ but I’m not a big fan.

I’m not big fan of yellow tulips in general other than Tulip West Point which reminds me it hasn’t appeared this year. It’s a tall lily flowered pointy tulip and is a great colour. Which means trouble as it’s one of Ian’s favourites.

Another group missing are the parrots. I think this may be Roccoco double ~ another I’m not sure of. But there should be a few more parrots amongst the pots. Maybe they have flown. Or I planted them upside down.

Back in London for the fitting of a new carpet. A 3 hour drive last night ~ to find first thing this morning it’s cancelled for today and only after I had moved the pots from the path to avoid any disasters. Rescheduled ~ I’m hopeful for tomorrow.

So what do you do when you have time in your hands. Photograph the London tulips.

I grew this in the window boxes last year and loved it. Tulip cabana. I planted the window boxes but this year they have been relegated to the path. We have had the house painted and nothing not even the tulips are going anywhere near the window sills.

I do have a few parrots starting to emerge here though. Is this tulip Rasta parrot? Maybe.

I’ve trialled ( fancy name for it really) some new reds in the pits along with some I grew last year. I’d tell you what they are but you probably know by now I’m a rubbish labelled. Some reds I have planted are Abba which this is not , pretty woman which I really like and which this is not as well. But it’s a nice one !

More reds. Maybe just maybe at some point I will plant the 15 Pitcombe pots with various reds. Various shades of red and various shapes. Maybe not but I need to get my thoughts together for next years ordering. There is research to be done.

Not quite red enough me thinks.

For now the pots have been moved and will be put back by the end of the week ~ and stay until the petals drop which on some of the earlier pots are starting now. All the effect. The planning. The worry for such a short flowering season ~ but sorry not sorry. It will happen all over again this time next year !