So last week I mentioned that I was looking forward to this particular “3×3 Garden” as it contains two of my most favorite things in the summer garden: dahlias and the color purple! So if you’re like me and have a “passion for purple”, then this combination might be just what you and your partial to full sun spot need! This is also a great trio for those of you who share my love for enjoying fresh flowers in the house as all three of these charmers make excellent cut flowers. The vibrancy of the purple dahlias are a perfect complement to the striking pinks of the smaller plants in this trio. The three amazing plants in the following garden layouts are the Lipstick Calla Lily, the Jan Van Schaeffelaar Pompon Dahlia, and the Purple Gem Cactus Dahlia.

Lipstick Calla Lily (9 total corms)

The color of this little beauty couldn’t be more perfect in this combination, nor could the name be more fitting. Truly reminiscent of a classic pink lipstick color, these callas lilies have a gorgeous, almost honeysuckle color to them with a noticeable yellow stamen in the center of each. Topping out at just 16″ tall, these border-type plants fit nicely around and underneath the larger foliage of the dahlias. Like the other plants in this grouping, this one can handle a little bit of shade so a partially sunny location is ideal.

Jan Van Schaeffelaar Pompon Dahlia (6 total tubers)

The bright pink color and tightly-growing petals of the Jan Van Schaeffelaar Pompon Dahlia are two delightful qualities of this plant. This has got to be one of my favorite dahlias (despite the dreadfully long name ). I just love the round blooms it produces and feels it adds a very cheery touch to this garden combination. This one grows 24-36″ tall on extremely sturdy stems which makes it great for cutting and planting in containers.

Purple Gem Cactus Dahlia (3 total tubers)

Texture. Texture. Texture! That’s what this plant’s role is all about in this trio. The rounded edges of the calla lily and pompon dahlia’s petals create a very subdued, relaxed feeling when all of a sudden Kazam!… the radiating, vibrant purple petals of the cactus dahlia stick straight out from the center and make a statement. Sometimes growing as tall as 60″, the Purple Gem Dahlia craves attention as it stands above the rest and puts on a show. Again, great for cutting and handling small amounts of shade, there is sure to be an application for this beauty in your yard.

Garden Layout #1: Circular Garden Bed or Round Container

The tall height of the Cactus Dahlia make them an excellent focal point in a circular-shaped garden area. Begin by placing the (3) Purple Gem Dahlia tubers in the center of the bed in a triangular-shaped pattern, approximately 12-18″ apart leaving them enough room for the lush foliage which grows towards the base of the dahlia plant. Leave approximately 12″ of soil between them and the next dahlias, placing the (6) Pink Pompon Dahlias around them in a circle, also leaving 12″ or so between each. Finish off the layout by placing the (9) Lipstick Calla corms around the dahlias to form a border, leaving 6-8″ of space between each. This should cover a circular bed which is at least 60-72″ in diameter.

Garden Layout #2: Rectangular Garden Bed

This layout would be perfect for planting along a  straight-walled structure as the towering habit of the Purple Gem Dahlias makes an excellent screen or cover to break up a boring wall or fence. Place the Purple Gems towards the back and center of the bed, arranging them in a stretched obtuse triangle pattern as shown in the diagram, leaving approximately 18″ between each. Then place the Pompon Dahlias slightly in front of but also among the Purple Gems in two groups of three, spacing them at about 12″. The (9) Lipstick Callas should then be used to form a border of sorts in front of the dahlias, spacing them 6-8″ apart in a diagonal pattern.

Garden Layout #3: Half Circle Garden Bed

Since these bulbs don’t need a full day of direct sunlight, they can work perfect in a partially shaded bed under a light-filtering tree or other structure. Place the (3) Purple Gem Cactus dahlia around the base of the tree, again leaving 12-18″ of space between them. Continue by planting the pompon dahlias again in two separate “triangle” shapes among the large cactus dahlias. Finish the bed off by filling in the rest of the area, placing the calla corms in a diagonal pattern along the border.

Ah yes. These combinations are truly my favorites. This trio collection is also available for 50% off from Holland Bulb Farms which will make it easy for you to try in your own garden! Click here and check it out! Next week’s trio contains some of the best-loved perennials…great for those of us in the colder climates!

With hands in the dirt and head in the clouds,

As a result of these warm temperatures, my inbox has been flooded with questions from panicked gardeners wondering what to do with their bulbs which are beginning to sprout. The answer to that question could be viewed as reassuring to the relaxed gardener or unnerving to the worrisome one. The truth is, there’s not much you can do but wait. Some people feel that covering the sprouts with a blanket, straw, or mulch will help. This would be true if say we were in the middle of spring and we were just happening to be experiencing a night or two of frost. But the truth is, winter will most likely come back yet this year (sorry to those of you hoping to slide right into spring). When that happens, the foliage is going to brown and dieback. Covering them at this point in the season will only insulate the warmth into the ground and cause the plants to sprout even MORE making it even harder from them to bounce back from this traumatic experience later. But have no fear! As long as the plants do not begin to produce flower buds, they should show no ill-affects come springtime.

If flower buds do begin to appear, you have one of two options: #1) Let them run their course. You may see less flowers this spring, or, if you’re extremely optimistic, perhaps we won’t get winter this year and the bulb will be allowed to continuing growing and blooming just like normal (all be it a few months too early). Or, #2) You could gently try to dig up the bulb while paying special attention to leave as many roots intact as possible and replant them in a pot or other container that can be brought indoors so that you can enjoy the blooms in the warmth of your own home. Obviously, the number of bulbs affected by this will probably determine which option you choose.

So there you have it: the short answer to one of the most popular question with gardeners today. I actually did quite an extensive blog post about this same topic a couple years back which may help if you would like to read more about it or have any questions that weren’t answered above. You can read it here. In the next week or so, I’ll also be posting another blog about what other affects this unseasonably warm winter is going to have on our spring and summer gardens…the information might surprise you!

With hands in the dirt and head in the clouds,

P.S. Don’t forget to get your recipes in for the 2012 Homegrown Recipe Contest! The deadline is fast-approaching in just a little over 2 weeks!

Thank you, Pam for submitting your recipe! This sounds like a great option for lunch to break up the monotony of my hard-boiled egg and Greek yogurt Be sure to check your email for you $10.00 off coupon to Holland Bulb Farms as your reward for submitting a featured recipe! Anyone interested at growing this “superfood” in your own garden this year? Check out the seeds available for purchase here!

With hands in the dirt and head in the clouds,

Just as I promised, the second garden in my 3X3 Garden Series is specially suited for all of you shade-dwellers! The wonderful warm color of apricot is one of my personal favorites in the garden as it catches the eye without over-powering everything else. While bright splashes of colors such as yellow and pink can make quite the statement, it’s sometimes almost too much to take in all at once. The hue of the apricot begonias in this collections give a subtle, more refined palette of color while the foliage of the caladiums adds a wonderful texture to the backdrop or center of a container. The three amazing plants in the following gardens are the Picotee Apricot and Scarlet Begonia, the Roseform Apricot Begonia, and the Red Ruffles Caladium. Let’s take a look at each of them briefly, shall we?:

Picotee Apricot and Scarlet Begonia (3) total tubers
In the world of flower blooms, the term “picotee” refers to a thin margin of a secondary color on the petals of the bloom. In the case of this begonia, a rich golden yellow-orange apricot petal is edged with a thin line of scarlet red. Subtle enough to not create a busy appearance, the petals almost appear to be glowing. Like most begonias, this one loves the shade and staying moist (although not wet) and grows approximately 8-14″ tall. The tubers should be planted just below the soil surface to avoid rotting issues. The main color of the petals complement the roseform begonia in this collection perfectly while the red margin help to echo the Red Ruffles Caladium.

Roseform Apricot Begonia (3) total tubers
Beautiful in every way, the Roseform Apricot Begonia could not be more perfect in this collection. The swirling appearance of the petals add a soft touch to the bold statement this gorgeous gem makes in the shade garden or container. (This is actually one of my favorite spring-planted bulbs and I’m not even usually a fan of begonias!) This one also grows 8-14″ tall which makes it perfect in front or around the taller-growing caladium. This shade-lover will add a true touch of elegance to your garden bed or planter.

Red Ruffles Caladium (3) total tubers
One of the newest members to the Caladium family, the foliage of the Red Ruffles caladium has a slight curl to its margins, giving it depth and dimension. The deep red centers fade into a green margin. This particular caladium resides in perfect harmony with the begonias as it is sits just above them in height (12-18″) and coordinates beautifully with its deep red and green leaves. Not only that, but this newly-developed variety has been bred for a tad more sun tolerance than other caladiums. Since this plant will provide some shade for the begonias in the following layouts, a partially-shaded location would be ideal for this charmer!

Garden Layout #1: Round Planter or Container

This is a wonderful combination for the small- to medium-sized pot in that partially shaded corner of your patio. I recommend using a pot at least 18″ in diameter (can be larger but may not look as full) for the amounts of plants in this collection. Place the (3) caladium bulbs in a triangular shape in the center of the pot, approximately 6-8″ apart and no more than 2″ below the soil surface. Then place the (6) begonia tubers, concave side up, in a circular pattern while alternating colors around these caladiums, approximately 4-6″ apart and 4-6″ away from the caladiums’ location. Try to leave at least 4″ between the center of the begonia tuber and the edge of the pot to give them room to grow. Feel free to fill in with your favorite shade-loving annuals of greens and oranges. Short-growing coleus would be an excellent choice!

Garden Layout #2: Circular or Tree Garden Bed

These particular plants work amazingly well when used in a tree ring or circular bed under a large structure as the shade the tree will provide is just what the doctor ordered for these guys! Start by placing your caladiums around the tree trunk (or structure) in the center, approximately 6-10″ apart. Obviously, you may have to provide more spacing depending on the diameter of the trunk at the base. Cover them with 1-2″ of well-drained soil. Then plant your begonia tubers (concave side up) in a circular pattern around the caladiums, leaving 6-8″ between each one and approximately 6″ between them and the caladiums. You will want to be sure to leave at least 3-4″ of open soil between the center of each begonia tuber and the edge of the bed to allow for them to fill in without hanging over onto the surround grass or paved surface.

Garden Layout #3: Rectangular Garden Bed

In this example, I am assuming that your garden bed is parallel to a taller “structure” of some kind, such as a fence, house, or even a line of tall shrubbery. If this is the case, you most definitely will want to place the caladiums (which are taller-growing) towards the back of the bed, approximately 8-10″ apart and no more than 2″ below the soil surface. If for some reason the bed is more “free-standing” and not along a structure place the caladiums down the center of the bed with the begonias around them, similar to the previous examples. The begonias will then be placed in a diagonal pattern (while again alternating colors) in front of these caladiums, approximately 6-8″ apart. As in the previous example (and always when planting begonias), do not cover these with much soil and be sure that the concave side of the begonia tuber is facing upward.

This completes my second 3×3 Garden! As with all of the gardens in my 3×3 Garden Series, this one is available at half-price on Holland Bulb Farms right here. Each purchase of the collection event comes with a full instruction sheet detailing each garden layout for easy reference when you are out planting in the garden. Be watching for next week’s 3×3 feature which focuses on two of my favorite things in the summer garden: dahlias and the color purple!!!

With hands in the dirt and head in the clouds,

Tomatoes, by all scientific definitions, are most definitely a fruit. Fruits are classified as such based on the way they are produced within the plants (from the ovary in the base of the flower) and the location of their seeds (within the fruit itself, although some cultivated version have been developed as “seedless”). So if science so clearly defines this, why the debate? Most cooks will classify items based on taste above all else (especially information regarding ovaries!). The tomato is no exception. That being said, most of those who know their way around the kitchen will consider a tomato a vegetable regardless of what any scientist says due to its “savory” rather than “sweet” nature.

So technically, yes, a tomato is actually the fruit of a plant…but since it is most often used as a  vegetable in cooking and this IS a recipe contest, we’ll be considering it a vegetable in the  Homegrown Recipe Contest.

Keep those recipes coming!

With hands in the dirt and head in the clouds,

Welcome to the first post in my 3X3 Garden Series!

Those of you with lots-o-sun and an eye for color are going to LOVE this combination! For my first “3×3 Garden”, I’ve chosen three plants that are sure to “light up” your garden spot or container. This trio consists of canna and calla lilies. These two types of plants go together as well as peanut butter goes with jelly, cookies with milk, and cheese with wine. Not only are they all in bloom approximately at the same time in mid-summer, they also complement each other in height and texture. The three amazing plants in the following gardens are the Lucifer Dwarf Canna, the Flame Calla Lily, and the California Gold Calla Lily. Allow me to introduce you to each of their great qualities:

Lucifer Dwarf Canna (4 total rhizomes)

A smaller version of its cousins (hence the name “dwarf”), the Lucifer is a perfect option for smaller scale areas as well as containers. It tops out at about 36″ tall and spreads as a normal canna would with lush foliage abounding. Its deep red petals are each edged with a thin margin of golden yellow. The rhizomes should be planted just under the soil surface as not to receive too much moisture. And yes, you guessed it, they LOVE direct, warm sun!

Flame Calla Lily (3 total rhizomes)

The Flame Calla is a perfect complement to the Lucifer Dwarf Canna both in its color and height. Its petals glow with a warm orange color, offering just small hints of yellow. As with most other garden-grown calla lilies, it grows approximately 10-16″ tall which makes it perfect for fitting around the Lucifer in a pot or in front of it in a garden. The rhizomes of calla lilies should be planted not much deeper than the cannas and, while they will tolerate a little more shade, are just as sun-loving.

California Gold Calla Lily (3 total rhizomes)

Again, a great partner for the Lucifer Canna! The brilliant golden yellow of the blooms on this 10-16″ tall calla really help to bring out the yellow on the petal margins of the Lucifer Canna. Like the Flame Calla, it fits perfectly in height next to the Lucifer and also adds a bit more of a finer texture to the garden and container.

So now that we’re familiar with these 3 fabulous plants, let’s look at how we can use them!

Garden Layout #1: Round Planter or Container

This is the perfect combination for that medium- to large-sized pot on your front step or back patio/deck. I recommend using a pot at least 24″ in diameter for the amount of plants in this collection. If the pot is standing in the open (not against a structure), place the (4) canna rhizomes in the center, leaving approx. 6-8″ between each. Be sure to just cover them each with soil and not plant too deep. If the container is located against a wall or other structure, you may want to place these taller-growing plants more toward the back of the container in the center. Then alternate the location of each of the (6) calla lily rhizomes so that the orange mixes with the yellow around the canna rhizomes. These should be spaced approx. 6″ apart. Once these are in place, feel free to fill in with your favorite yellow, orange, and red sun-loving annuals along the container margin or add some trailing plants to soften the edges of the container! *Note: Have two pots to mirror each other? Simply double the quantity of each bulbs and mirror the design in the second pot. Have 2 pots smaller than 24″ in diameter? Use only half in each!

Garden Layout #2: Mailbox/Lamppost/Statue Garden Bed

Obviously, the location of your “structure” may differ than the diagram I’ve provided, but this should give you the general idea. To soften the look of the post, plant the (4) canna rhizomes evenly spaced (approx. 10-12″ apart) around the base just under the soil surface. Then lay out the (6) callas, again alternating between colors in front of the cannas or all around them, depending on the location of the post, leaving at least 6″ between each one. These callas will look best if planted using a diagonal pattern rather than a straight line as shown in the diagram.

Garden Layout #3: Rectangular Garden Bed

This is a great application for beds which border more upright aspects of the landscape, such as the side of a house/shed or along a fence or tree line. You’ll want to place the canna rhizomes in the back, spacing them approximately 10-12″ apart. Then plant the callas, again alternating between colors, approximately 6-8″ apart in front of the cannas. Just as in the mailbox garden bed, I would recommend planting these more on a diagonal than in a straight line for a more natural, full look.

So there you have it! The first entry in my 3×3 Garden Series. Hopefully this helped to familiarize you with three spring-planted bulbs you may or may not have known much about before and also gave you some ideas on how you might use them in your landscape. Don’t have a lot of sun? Not to worry! The 3×3 Garden next week will be specially designed for you shade dwellers! Oh, and one more thing: for those of you who may be interested in trying this combo at your own home, Holland Bulb Farms has made it easy to do so! You can purchase this combination of plants for a specially discounted price in one easy click right here. Each garden combo I feature will be added in this category for easy access for all of my readers as each new post appears! Nice of them, isn’t it??

With hands in the dirt and head in the clouds,

Thank you, Barbara for sending this wonderful recipe! I think I am going to have to try it in my own kitchen some time this weekend…Also, check your email for your $10.00 off coupon to Holland Bulb Farms as your reward for having your recipe featured on my blog! Perhaps you can purchase some golden potatoes to grow yourself this summer and make even more of this delicious dish!

With hands in the dirt and head in the clouds,

P.S. Just a “rule clarification” for the Recipe Contest in case any of you were wondering: simply because a recipe is featured on the blog does NOT disqualify it from making it in the top three for one of the grand prizes. Also, just because a recipe is NOT featured on the blog does by no means infer that it will not make it in the top 3 of either category Good luck and get those recipes submitted while there is still time! (Contest officially ends at 11:59pm Central Time on Friday, February 17th!)

Listen up all of you cooks and bakers out there! Holland Bulb Farms just announced its

2nd Annual Homegrown Recipe Contest!

Just like last year, Holland Bulb Farms is asking for your best recipes using a fruit and/or vegetable that they sell! The contest began on Friday, January 13th and continues for about a month with the deadline being on Friday, February 17th. Holland Bulb Farms and I will be choosing the top 3 in each category (fruit and vegetable). Those top 3 will each be awarded a $100, $50, and $25 gift card respectively. Enter up to 5 recipes in each category! I’ll also feature any recipes I find outstanding during the duration of the contest…those entrants will each be awarded a $10 coupon to use on their next Holland Bulb Farms order! You can read the official rules here and enter the contest here.

I am so very excited to make and TASTE all of your wonderful creations! Keep watching the blog for new recipes to add to your recipe box!

With hands in the dirt and head in the clouds,

With the New Year upon us, I’ve been thinking it’s time for a fresh, new idea for the Bulb Blog. Sure, there are a million and one gardening topics I could cover (and still intend to continue doing) but I like to keep things interesting, both for you as my readers and for myself as the writer!

In my search for a new idea, I came across a handful of other blogs which followed a pattern of some sort. That is, they published a post on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, etc.) with a continuing theme. One of these such themes is a common trend in style blogs and is called “The 30 x 30 Remix”. The idea behind this “fashion remix” is to take 30 different articles of clothing and/or accessories and challenge yourself to only use those 30 selected items in your wardrobe for the next 30 days. It really is quite an interesting concept as it forces a person to think outside of the box and use the items in his or her closet on a more frequent basis resulting in a more creative look and a smaller shopping budget.

I began to think about how this could apply to the gardening world. As all of us gardeners look toward spring and begin dreaming of what we’ll plant once the ground thaws, would it be possible for me to take 30 different plants and arrange them in 30 different ways? I wondered. While the answer was yes, it was possible, I decided it really wasn’t all that practical. After all, if a gardener purchases 30 different plants, he or she will most likely only arrange and plant them once. As you all know, a plant or bulb is not like a piece of clothing in that it cannot be reused (or re-planted) day after day. However, a bulb or plant is not unlike your favorite scarf or sweater in that it can be adjusted or combined with other articles of clothing (or plants) to suit that day’s (or garden’s) specific need! Therefore, the idea of the “3×3 Garden Series” was born.

Here’s how it will work: starting next week Friday (January 20th) and running until the last week of April, I will post a weekly blog highlighting 3 different amazing plants or bulbs currently trending in the spring-planted gardening community. These plants may be tall, short, sun-loving, shade-loving…however, the three which I highlight will all be compatible with one another, meaning they will complement each other in height, bloomtime, and bloom color, as well as sunlight and space requirements. I am then challenging myself to come up with 3 different layouts which uses the same number of each of these plants! In doing so, I am hoping to expand your possibilities in your landscape no matter what shape or type of garden you have! And the best part: Each one of these gardens will be available as a “trio collection” from Holland Bulb Farms for purchase at a discounted price  to make your shopping easy easy easy!

So…

3 different plants each week…

3 different layouts for those plants each week…

16 total weeks in my 3×3 Garden Series…

48 total plants used in 48 different layouts!

Here’s to hoping these next 16 weeks fill you with imagination and inspiration for your garden!

With hands in the dirt and head in the clouds,

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.  Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential. ~Ellen Goodman

The New Year is upon us and the topic of resolutions is abounding with talk show hosts and co-workers around the water cooler. It seems like a topic you are either hot or cold for. I, for one, have never really given them much thought. I’ve always kind of thought it was a nice idea: starting the year off right, changing things that you saw begging for improvement. But to make a list and commit to starting or discontinuing certain habits as of one certain date? Sounded a bit to dramatic for me.

This year, however, has been different. Whether it’s a result of recently becoming a mom or now realizing that I’m nearing the 30-year old mark, I feel like I’ve finally stuck to the path of self-improvement for more than a couple of hours. For the first time in my life, I’ve looked at the start of this new year as an incredible opportunity to make some strides in a few areas of my life that continue to be a thorn in my side. So rather than making a list of specific things I want to work on and/or change (such as “Walk the dog more” or “Eat less sugar”), I’ve decided to choose a couple key phrases to focus on and adjust areas of my life or personality in which they relate to.

The first of these phrases deals with my consistent habit to jump into everything with both feet and take on way more than I could ever possibly handle. While I love the part of my personality that tends to be ambitious, taking on so much most oftentimes results in frustration and an eventual abandonment of the “project” at hand all-together. Take, for instance, my desire to hone my fruit and vegetable growing skills. Although it’s hard for me to admit, I don’t know much about growing fruits and vegetables. I have always been the one envying my neighbor over the fence as he picks his beautiful red tomatoes and shiny green zucchini. So last year, I was bound and determine to grow some of my own. I purchased a seed starting kit with individual cells and planted over THIRTEEN different kinds of fruits and vegetables in only 48 postage stamp sized cells. I labeled them all and kept a record of the date each were planted and when each one began to sprout. I became increasingly excited as I eagerly watched each cell fill with greenery that longingly reached towards the sunny kitchen window. When the first week of May arrived, I marked out a 4′ x 12′ garden plot and, due to my lack of a sod stripper, proceeded to remove the grass in that area with a shovel. I cultivated it with my garden fork and was all set to plant.

I then realized my problem, or should I say PROBLEMS. First of all, I had WAY too many plants that required WAY too much space. For instance, among the thirteen varieties I had chosen were watermelon, cantaloupe, AND pumpkin seeds. Those plants alone would demand the space of half of my entire backyard! Secondly, being someone who doesn’t know a whole lot about growing produce, I had bit off way more than I could chew (pardon the pun ). How was I ever going to keep track of the thinning, spacing, pinching, and harvesting requirements for thirteen different types of plants in a small, not even 50 square foot area? And lastly, I had plants that were already so large they were beginning to take over my kitchen and yet it wasn’t warm enough to plant them outdoors.  I ended up composting over half of my seedlings (I almost literally shed a tear while doing so) and then planted the rest the day before a frost, which brought me down to perhaps a quarter of what I started with. As the weather warmed up, I got busy with other things. And as I got busy, my plants begged for my attention. I think I ended up harvesting a mere one dozen beans and three tomatoes from all of the seeds I planted. Pretty sad.

So finally to the point at hand…One of my declarations for the new year is “Do less and do it better”. I am DEFINITELY going to attempt the fruit and vegetable garden again this year. However, I am limiting myself to a maximum of three different types of plants. What those three will be is yet to be determined. But I think I’ve found a website that will help which I wanted to share with you. It’s called “Let’s Grow Veggies” and within seconds, after simply typing your zip code, it will give you a rough “schedule” for growing over 20 common vegetables. Now THIS is the kind of information I can use! You can check it out for yourself here: www.letsgrowveggies.com

So here’s to a New Year. Whether you make resolutions or not, I challenge you to continually strive to “patch the cracks” of your life…every day is filled with oh-so-much potential!

With hands in the dirt and head in the clouds,

PS Remember the Homegrown Recipe Contest last year? Guess what – I’ll have some exciting news to share regarding that very soon!