How about some info from a gal? My concern is  what is going to happen with them? Will I get blooms in spring? Yes, they will bloom in the spring just fine. I have mulch. Should I get some down right away? Cuz now that I think of it, I calculated the planting depth (as instructed on a tulip site) by including the 2" of mulch IÂd planned on using. Maybe thatÂs what caused this? Too close to the surface? Some folks count the mulch in the planting depth, and others don't. I think that really depends upon the plant or bulb, and the type of mulch. I would think that in your zone no more than 1" would really be needed to keep weed seed germination down and for 'looks'. I use shredded bark mulch and figure 2" equals about 1" of soil. And you say they need more cover. Does that mean normally they'd still be doing this growing under the ground? Yes And if so, does that mean they'd still have sprouted in a few weeks anyway? Yes possibly. They would however emerged somewhat later, if they they had more soil/mulch that they had to grow up through. I thought that they spent the winter setting root and then, prior to early, mid, or late spring (depending on the bulb type) THAT was when they started sending up shoots. Had the bulbs been planted earlier, they would have probably rooted in before starting to send up shoots. I have bulbs that have not yet been planted, so they have no roots, but several different cultivars have sent up green shoots from the top of the bulbs. I guess I just thought that since tulips only bloom once that this was the beginning of that growth. And if they freeze then they won't grow a 2nd time. The botanical tulips you planted are good ones for perennializing, unlike so many others. You say early sprouting bulbs is no big deal. So what happens next? Do they continue to grow until they die off from a freeze? And if so, that won't affect them blooming next year? The bloom bud is tucked safely inside of the bulb and will emerge at the right time. Trust me when I say that bulbs survive being planted in soil that freezes, and still continue to bloom just fine. In many area the soil freezes a lot deeper than one plants bulbs. Now a bulb just thrown into a freezer won't survive though. I didn't want the mulch holding in water when my ground is already mud. So long as the planting area has fairly good drainage, the bulbs should be fine. It should not hurt them to be in moist soil, with or without mulch. Often when the fall rains set in here in my area, the soil is very wet for a very long time, like maybe until it freezes for the winter. You don't sound like a dummy. You sound like an individual who invested in and planted some wonderful spring blooming bulbs. It is common for one to be concerned that they will be all right. I can tell you will enjoy your new spring blooms so much that chances are you will be adding to them in the years to come. Sue

This will be the first time I've tried Purple Sensation allium, but I do have the drumstick allium as well as the blue one, whatever it is called. For 3 years now they have come back strong...no problems of hardiness at all. I'm not sure if the larger novelty gladiator types are as hardy or not. Mine are planted in full sun, and they seem to like that best. Mine do not flop in the wind at all, they are much sturdier than they appear! I've read that for the big alliums, they need REALLY good drainage to stay upright. As for the unsightly foliage...well, I have mine interplanted with lilies, and I think they look awesome. The foliage just seems to sort of disappear, I don't notice it when it dies at all. I leave the blooms on after they go to seed; I think they look kind of neat. One of my favorite perennials! You can tuck it in just about anywhere.

WOW deb!! what a nice box to send!! i know you are gonna love to plant them sandy!! :')) when i went to go get em's gloves they had mostly little ones, then i was thinking well my hands are bigger, and what if she's like me and likes them looser?? hmm so i tried a bunch of different gloves on, and then i found a pair i thought were cool, and grabbed some, LOL and was just praying that she didn';t have dainty hands!! LOL :')) candles are always sooo nice to have!! :')) ohhh man this is gonna be close!! last time i put one at the 149 mark we went to 151 LOL i found this thing i'll post the link its way cool!! if ya like hummerbirds, you'll love this!! the video is sooo cool, she's feeding them out of her hand! well the flower is in her hand and the nector is in her hand. how awesome!!! LOL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9uxYy_Na3w i have to call my brother later and tell him to put vinegar on his poison ivy, it seems he's got it bad, he also got bit by a brown recluse maybe. his skin is black and has a hole. they called my mom and she talked to beth last night. i missed his call the other night. Errr!!! i really do need to keep in touch w my brothers more often! instead of just when i hear something aweful. i remember when it used to be a sunday thing, call everyone and talk and see whats been going on, geez now we just go about life and thats it. i'm trying to wait cuz he's in oregon and he's two hrs behind us. LOL lots of love!! hugs :')) hope everyone has a great day :')

Y'all, this is been the absolutely worst winter...and I am in the south! (NC) Honestly, when I hear about the horrible weather in the NorthEast and MidWest, I just feel so bad for you and try to count my blessings here...but it has been pretty awful for us, relatively speaking. I just can't seem to get warm, and every time we get a pretty day in the upper 60's or heaven forbid, low 70's...it's like Mother Nature says..."ha-ha, PSYCH!" and sends some nasty cold rain or lovely ice that we enjoyed so last week. *eye roll* I am DONE. I will NOT complain about the heat and humidity this summer, if we are even so blessed as to have a summer. No sir, I will embrace sticking to my car seat and ringing out my shoes after a morning jog. I am so tired of being cold. :( Ah, well, we do have some Spring things trying to put on a show in our yard. Our forsythia is lovely, and my brave hydrangeas are putting out their new, baby leaves. No dogwoods yet, but cherry trees and Bradford pears are blooming. Of course, if it is cold and windy...that will decimate their blooms. Grass is green and pretty. I try to cheer myself up by looking at it from the confines of my warm house. Spring, please arrive! (I feel guilty saying that when y'all are dealing with much worse.)