May 3rd, 2007
"Earth laughs in flowers"
Every spring, when the forsythias, dogwoods, magnolias, lilacs, azaleas, daffodils, and tulips put on their annual show, I’m reminded of these words penned by Emerson. Of course, this phrase is part of a longer passage about humanity’s inability to escape death, but I still like it in the context of thinking about spring and nature and renewal.
My SP10 hostess, Kerry, has asked everyone in her group to post about their favorite flowers. That’s a really difficult task, because I’d be hard pressed to name a flower I didn’t like. I even find dandelions sort of appealing.
Right now, though, I’d have to say that my favorite flowers are these giant red tulips growing in my front yard. Jan and I moved into this house in the fall a few years ago, and shortly afterward his father, who is Dutch and lives in the Netherlands, came to visit. While he was here, my father-in-law, a horticulturalist who knows pretty much everything about plants, planted about three hundred tulip, daffodil, and crocus bulbs around the house, mostly in the front. Squirrels dug up most of the crocuses, but every spring we get to enjoy a magnificent display of yellow and white daffodils, followed by tulips in almost every size and color imaginable.
I love the picture of the tulip. Do you think your father-in-law can plant bulbs at my house? I just have a struggling lawn and hibiscus in front of my house and no green thumb.
I can only imagine how absolutely gorgeous all your tulips must be! Thanks so much for sharing!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Marsha!!!! I got your card, and it was such a nice surprise!! I didn’t even think to send you one — I was just planning on commenting on your blog, as I am now doing. :) Next year, though, next year…! Anyway, all my best wishes for a wonderful day & a fabulous new year! YAY for May 8!!!
after Karen, can Opa come to the new house and plant bulbs for Bruce and me? Every time I plant bulbs, I move. I am almost afraid to do it at the new house. But I figure if I have someone ELSE plant the bulbs, then the curse is broken, right?
Love the “poppy tulip”. Oops! Happy Birthday!
Tulips and daffodils are pretty easy to grow–just stick ‘em in the dirt in the fall, once it’s cold and the ground hasn’t frozen yet. We bought most of our bulbs at a local hoity-toity nursery that was selling them for 75% off in December. The ground hadn’t frozen yet that year, so planting them was no problem. We don’t do anything at all to take care of them, and they just keep showing up again!
And thanks for the birthday wishes! :)
It was yesterday? Yesterdayk was your birthday? Happy, happy birthday! Your tulips look gorgeous.