It's tulip planting time for most of us, I guess. Back again with a sincere post, but one which is also a bit of a sneaky attempt to revive tulips91's great message concept and so recycle this thread into the 2006-2007 season. I really loved this thread - I learned so much and enjoyed the excellent and tantalizing descriptions people provided. After evaluating the performances of some of my "new" tulips last spring and comparing them with my old favorites, I felt compelled to revise my "Top Ten Tulips" list: I'm bumping Tulipa acuminita (too expensive and too ephemeral) in favor of "Abba." Praestans-Fusilier knocks off Apricot Beauty. This was tough, but the Praestans earned extra points for being more unusual and rarer to find than the Beauty. "Abba" is a double early tulip with an intensely deep and dramatic tomato red color and a light, fresh fragrance. It stands sturdily on medium short, stout stems. Forces perfectly. "Praestans fusilier" is a multi-flowering tulip that seemed to bloom for weeks on end in my yard. I've read descriptions that state that it's a glowing orange-red in color, but mine were in fact a color similar to the Apricot Beauty, but yes, a bit more luminous. The Praestans produces about four or five flowers per stem. This tulip is somewhat diminutive, and gives the impression of an exquisite small bouquet. There were a lot of close contenders for making my new list. They included all of the double earlies that I tried, which were Monsella, Montreux, and Peach Blossom. They were all fragrant to some significant degree, some intensely so, with distinct aromas of honey. All of them forced beautifully, and arrayed together in pots it was like having the outdoors indoors with spring arriving six weeks early. I really recommend this class of tulips to one and all. A couple of the new species tulips that I tried were also outstanding, with the delicacy, varied and interesting forms, and fantastic color combinations such as one tends to find only in the species tulips. tulips91, I admired your metaphor of "tulips in the woods." And I'll soon be taking the bait of your "first try" story invitation. I'm a raving tulipmaniac once again, and have ordered or bought in stores lots of new varieties this year, especially species tulips. I intend to post a separate "Your recent tulip acquisitions?" message which will, I hope, attract some respondents who will share their lists of any tulips they will be planting for the first time this year. cranebill

Wrong, all tulips are true perennials. Some are more vigorous than others and all are adapted to mediterranean type climates rather than the continental climate found in many US gardens. Additionally, tulips do not thrive in rich garden soil with summer irrigation and fertilising. Just because Linda can't grow them well doesn't mean you won't be able to, although the eastern seaboard generally isn't good for tulips. Here are some darwin hybrid tulips growing wild in a hedgerow near my house. The old red Apeldoorn tulips are some of the best and you've found that already. Some modern darwin hybrids are not so good, other hybrids even less so. The only way you will know is by trying. Provide drainage, don't pour water on them all summer, and don't over-fertilise. Add limestone gravel if your soil is acid. The Emperor tulips are hybrids and selected forms of the wild species Tulipa fosteriana. Like all the other small species tulips, it lasts longer than the bigger hybrids.

schoolhouse, Yes! That is how I was able to multiply mine! I started with two forsythias (one I bought on Sale at Lowe's and the other was a division from my cousin's bushes), and I now have about 20 nice flowering shrubs. It's amazing how easy they are to propagate! And actually, they rooted themselves. When their limbs arch down and touch the ground, they root themselves. Then in late summer or early autumn, just separate the newly rooted branch(es) from the mother plant, (if you want to) and plant your new pups out where you want them to grow. You can also root them easily from cuttings, but the layering method has actually worked faster and better for me. I only wish that all flowering shrubs were so easy to propagate! Good luck! ~Annie

To All, up-to-date traders' list below. Please let me know if I missed anything ASAP. THANK YOU ALL! From flowergrils Canadian Columbine, and Deep Purple Columbine Echinacea, white Cuttings from DA Rose Siberian iris 'White Swirl' Dahlias, short lemon yellow and white with dark pink tips Dainty purple Iris Yucca Scabiosa, reserve for next year if possible Mulberry Tree, reserve for next year if possible To flowergrils Salvia Splendens, Red colour (6) Astilbe seedings (2, maybe more), later Rooted Clemaits #1 cutting (if success), later From Ross Double Orange Daylily Pink Babies Breath Cherry Blossom Delphinium Purple Aconitum Hellebore Toad lily White Bleeding Heart seedlings Double Red Hibiscus (maybe propagation from cutting) Blue Agapanthus Cucumber, long green PLUMERIA ALBA To Ross Daffodils, mini yellow (1 small clump) and double yellow (1) Iris, yellow/red (1) Colchicum (1) Snapdragon (6) Yellow Cosmos (2) Sweet Pepper (4) Wisteria Vine seeds From Signet Tomatillos Hyacinth Centaurea Montana 'amethyst in snow' seeds Hosta, 'Big Daddy', reserved for next year To Signet Hens and Chicks Black-eyed Susan Brunnera Chinese Wolfberry (6) Rooted Clemaits #1 & #2 cutting (if success), later Wisteria Vine seeds Trees, some kind of maple I guess (3), later From Blueiris Columbine, deep dark purple, seeds in fall Some of each kind Iris To Blueiris Trillium (1) White Columbine Seeds (when it's ready), later Rooted Clemaits #1 cutting (if success), later From Greylady Blue Fescue Grass (reserved for next year) Sedum 'purple emperor' Sedum Vera Jameson Iris--short clear yellow Cosmos 'rubenza' Japanese ivory silk Lilac Hosta "stiletto" Blue Cadet Hosta Impatiens Balfourii, also named Poor Man's Orchid Comfrey Corydalis Lutea Perennial Aylssum Daisy, "Silver Princess" Spiderwort--Navajo Princess To Greylady Salvia Splendens, Red colour (6) Colchicum (1) Clematis 'Sweet Autumn' (1)--later this year if success Yellow Cosmos (2) Lupine seeding (2) Snapdragon (6) China Aster (6) Chinese long eggplant seedings (4, maybe more) From Serendipity Columbines - pastel mix Pincushion flower - mauve Purple bearded (medium mauve colour) iris Lamium, purple Clemaits cuttings, if possible To Serendipity Hosta #1, #2 & #3 (1 per each) Ribbon Grass (1 gallon) Fern (2) Zebra Grass (1 large clump) Anemone Canadensis, white (2) From Dottersccv Blue Fescue Ornamental Grass Hosta, tall green, plain To Dottersccv Colchicum (1) Snow in Summer (1) Wisteria Vine seeds From wmc & navygril King Spear Gaillardia Balloon Flower, Pink Octopus Black Grass From Ash Nasturtiums Seedings From WoodFishN White Datura (Moon Flowers, Angel Trumpets) Water Lily Root Bamboo To WoodFishN Dahlia “Bodacious” (yellow with red centre), special Thank You