If I plant anything with a small bulb in my containers, they are neatly extracted. It's like keyhole surgery! Am I stuck with daffodils? I like some daffodils but a bit of variety would be nice? I'm not keen on tulips.
Interesting. If I grow smaller bulbs in pots - crocus/snowdrops/species tulips etc, I net them because it's those r*ddy flying rats that get them. I accept they'll get some in the ground. I'm not aware of mice taking them, but the mice eat the bird food in the cages, so maybe that's why they don't bother with the bulbs The only other bulb that reliably produces bulbils is the sphaerocephalon allium, and they're tiny, but it produces so many that I probably wouldn't notice if they took those, and I'd be happy if they did. Every other allium I try doesn't return reliably at all, let along produce more. Maybe they don't like alliums? Swings and roundabouts though
They look sort of plastic to me. Depending on the weather, you might be lucky to get two or three weeks in flower and then you're stuck with unattractive leaves for several weeks after. @Fairygirl. @MikeOxgreen. I'd never considered sensory container plants👃😒
Lots of plants only have two or three weeks flowering though The species ones are more reliable, and will naturalise in the ground if they're happy. Maybe worth taking a swatch at those. Many are early too, so a nice burst of colour, and they even bulk up well in pots. I had to split some last year.
I know what you mean about some looking a bit 'fake' though. The parrot ones are nice though. I have to treat most as annuals, but the odd one comes back.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I quite like the peony ones - but not enough. I don't really like a burst of colour in the spring. I prefer to ease myself in gently with pale colours and leave the burst until the summer.
Slow and steady wins the race sometimes I suppose I'm the opposite. A burst of colour, especially when winter drags [ as it often does here] to make you more optimistic that spring might actually spring, is very welcome. I don't like pale colours much either, so those 'in yer face' ones where I need these , are just the job
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Tulips are mice and rats' top favourite so you'd be wasting your time (and money) anyway. I've been planting crocus in wire cages - using aviary netting to make a box. Dig a hole, put the box in, partly fill it, put the bulbs in, fill it up, close the top and wire it shut, then back fill the hole. It's worked for the last couple of years. I do make wire hats for pots but they're quite ugly and the plants don't always grow through cleanly - the buried ones are better and because crocus are reliable returners, I only have to do it once and then just leave it alone. I guess the wire will rot eventually.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
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The only other bulb that reliably produces bulbils is the sphaerocephalon allium, and they're tiny, but it produces so many that I probably wouldn't notice if they took those, and I'd be happy if they did. Every other allium I try doesn't return reliably at all, let along produce more. Maybe they don't like alliums? Swings and roundabouts though
What don't you like about tulips @B3?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@MikeOxgreen. I'd never considered sensory container plants👃😒
The species ones are more reliable, and will naturalise in the ground if they're happy. Maybe worth taking a swatch at those. Many are early too, so a nice burst of colour, and they even bulk up well in pots. I had to split some last year.
I know what you mean about some looking a bit 'fake' though. The parrot ones are nice though. I have to treat most as annuals, but the odd one comes back.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I suppose I'm the opposite. A burst of colour, especially when winter drags [ as it often does here] to make you more optimistic that spring might actually spring, is very welcome.
I don't like pale colours much either, so those 'in yer face' ones where I need these
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
2. Lots of mouse traps.
3. Only grow bulbs that you know you like.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”