Collabo-blog

This week on my blog, we have the lovely exception of having Amy Conley Samulson guest write about her flowers she grows. Everyday when I walk from the sidewalk to my front porch, I revel in watching the progress of my flowers. Since we moved here in 2007, my daughter and I have planted bulbs. Daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, ranunculus in the fall for the spring. Cannas, freesia, dahlia, daylilies, gladioulus in the late winter for summer.

Bulbs are a belief in a brighter future. A trust and hope for a beautiful tomorrow. Like planting a tender rock and then months later being rewarded for your foresight with new green buds out of the ground. Right now, my paperwhites stand regal on the front porch. The yellow daffodil buds closed tight are just starting to bend at the sepals. The tulips busted the soil with their blue-green torpedoes. The differences day-to-day warm my heart on that 3-second walk to my front door.

Tonight I'll plant the cannas, glads, and daylilies I couldn't resist at Costco. Summer will be another surprise, a beautiful return on my investment.

Bulbs are shaped like teardrops. Plant bulbs in the soil until their top tip is barely covered. Corms, like lilies, ranunculus, freesia, canna, are shaped like ginger, and should be planted laying flat with any tips up.

Water when planted, but no other special care is needed. When daylight and moisture tell the plant to bloom, it will do it's thing, giving a show. After it blooms, nothing needs to be done. The flower, then leaves will wither, and the bulb will rest until it blooms again next year. And the year after. Daffodil bulbs will rebloom up to five years, tulips three. Corms like iris, cannas, and daylilies will actually grow larger under the soil and actually need to be split every three to four years as the plants will double in size.

Bulbs gift the grower for years.