SEPTEMBER EXTRA 2020 birdsandblooms.com 15
9 La Belle Epoque
TYPE: DOUBLE
(PEONY FLOWERED);
BLOOM TIME: LATE SPRING
Double tulips—both early
and late—present extra
flower power. The blooms
grow up to 4 inches
across, and many offer
interesting scents.
Why we love it:
La Belle Epoque presents
a fresh color palette.
Dusky rose, peach,
caramel and butterscotch
tones ripple quietly
throughout this beauty,
which pales over time.10 LilacWonder
TYPE:SPECIES;BLOOMTIME:MIDSPRING
Speciestulipsformahugegroupofwild
typesfromwhichallmoderntulipswere
developed.Thesmall,toughplantsare
idealforrockgardensorplaceswith
excellentdrainage.
Whyweloveit:Withunusualrosy
lilacpetalsandadeepyellowcenter
thatglowslikeasearchlight,Lilac
Wonderisatruecharmer,reaching
only 6 to 7 inchestall.10
9
Deb Wiley, a professional garden
writer and editor in Des Moines,
Iowa, plants her favorite tulips
(Daydream, Night Club, Angelique
and others) behind a deer fence.PLANTING BULBS
Here’s how to grow
your best tulips yet.- Plant in cool temps at
least six weeks before
the ground freezes. - Chose a spot with full
sun and well-draining
soil. Avoid wet areas. - Dig a hole that’s two to
three times deeper than
the bulb’s height. - Put the bulb in pointy
side up, roots down.