How is your garden growing? I hope you’re reaping the rewards of spring blooms by creating beautiful bouquets for enjoyment indoors.
Here at the flower farm, we’re currently knee deep in tulips—and have absolutely no complaints!
Today, I want to introduce you to some intriguing tulip varieties. First up is Valdivia, a fully double tulip with amazing color and bloom size. What you see in the image below is Valdivia in the bud stage. When completely open, its flowers will measure 6″ across.
As a flower farmer, I’ve always tended to prefer single blooms with a weight that makes a graceful draping effect possible in my floral arrangements. However, last fall I decided to add Valdivia to my lineup, and when it bloomed this spring, I discovered what will become one of my mainstay crops. It’s proven to have a long vase life—longer than any tulip I’ve ever grown, which ranks it among the top performers at this Kentucky flower farm.
I encourage you to grow a variety of double blooming tulips, such as Valdivia, alongside your single bloomers. I also suggest you take time to seek out and grow other fascinating, one-of-a-kind varieties—like Black Parrot. With intricate details and feathery petals, Black Parrot is a must-have in floral designs. Stunning and unusual tulips like Valdivia and Black Parrot will set you apart from the big box florists.
You might wonder how we get all these different varieties in the ground. Here at the farm, we plant our bulbs in long ditches as shown below. The ditch method is an effective way to plant a large number of bulbs. You can easily plant multiple bulbs in single, double or triple rows without the aid of a bulb planter. We use it to add delightful spring color around our shop and other structures.
You don’t just have to grow double and parrot tulips. Single blooms also add beauty to the garden and landscape.
When your fall K. van Bourgondien catalog arrives, take a look at every page. You’re sure to find flowers that will inspire you—flowers you’ll want to grow on your own flower farm or in your home garden.
And if you’re on the fence about what to order, just call us. We’ll be glad to help you choose the varieties you need for creating a season of bountiful blooms come spring of 2022.
Happy Gardening!
Pamela Anthony
Beehind Thyme Farm & Garden