Still here. Always looking for . . .
“I love planting bulbs. It is making promises with tomorrow, believing in next year and the future.”
— Jean Hersey
True confessions: This gardener . . . doesn’t love planting bulbs. In fact, it is probably my least favorite of all garden chores. I don’t exactly know why, but I think it must be the timing? (I’m kinda ready for a break from my garden by late fall.) Anyway. I struggle with getting out there and planting bulbs in the fall. It happens to be . . . a garden chore I’d prefer to skip.
And some years, it’s a chore I actually DO skip . . . even when I’ve already purchased the bulbs (unfortunately). But I usually DO get it together (eventually) and get the bulbs in the ground.
I finally planted my spring bulbs (daffodils and allium) this week – just this past Monday. I thought I’d missed my window of opportunity when it snowed 2 feet a couple of weeks ago, but . . . it warmed up (as it does), and the snow melted (as it does). It was time to Just DO IT . . . before colder weather rolls in again.
Once I got going, of course, I was happy to be out there. Fresh air. Hands in the dirt. Forget-your-troubles-c’mon-get-happy. All that. But mostly . . . I liked thinking about how excited I’d be, when April rolls around again, seeing those bulbs coming to life in my garden. Blooming after the gloom of winter. And that’s what it’s all about, now . . . isn’t it?
Projecting ourselves into the future.
A future that we’re eager to see.
A future that we’re planning to be part of.
And that, my friends . . . is hope!
For most of us, there is still time to plant some bulbs (although probably just a small window now).
Think spring . . . and get out there (quick)!
Plant some hope.
“. . . the planting of bulbs is the work of hope and is always thrilling.”
— May Sarton
Planting bulbs certainly is the work of HOPE, but I have to say I don’t enjoy it and do not do it! And Fletch hasn’t for years either. We stil have daffodills that come up from being planted years ago. The tulips have mostly disappeared though (squirrels LOVE those bulbs). We also still have hyacinths from long, long ago.
I think future Kym will give present Kym a big hug when those daffodils and allium are blooming. (And maybe those warm fleece-lined overalls helped make the task a little bit better!)
I don’t plant bulbs anymore because it’s a losing battle with deer and squirrels, with the wildlife usually winning. If they don’t eat the bulbs, they take the tulip blossoms out with one bite.
I planted a lot of bulbs last year and the results were lovely. Unfortunately, I have seen an increase in squirrel activity in the areas where there are bulbs so I’m not sure we will see the same results.
It will be nice to see all those bulbs when spring rolls around again.
For now, our garden is what it is. I need to make a better plan once everything is blooming next year. It sort of fell to the lowest of the necessary chores last year.
I really love the things we do today that need time to be. We are such an “instant gratification” society… there is something profoundly hopeful to set something in motion today that won’t come to fruition for a while.
An excellent reminder as we close in on the start of winter!
Nothing says hope like planting spring bulbs in the fall! I’m glad you got out there and got it done.
Gardening is all about hope for the future. However like you, I don’t love to plant bulbs either and planting a fall vegetable garden is definitely not for me. The garden and I need the rest that comes with autumn and winter. That said, I did plant a few new daffodil bulbs this September. Few is the operative word. A squirrel dug them up and I replanted most of them. Here’s hoping.
Every year when you and my gardening friends post about planting bulbs, I think, “I should really do that!” And yet I never do. We’re lucky that we still get some daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths that a previous owner of our house planted, in addition to the rose bushes and the bleeding hearts. But I’m sure those won’t last forever, so one of these days I will finally plant some myself — and then pat myself on the back when they finally bloom.
I’m holding off on planting here until I see what comes up in our first springtime… But I do have a bulb question for you, if you’re taking them! In my old garden, I planted tons of tulips and daffs. I always held my breath in the fall, though, digging to plant my next round of bulbs. I was afraid of disrupting what I’d already planted. Or gouging the heck out of them. Which definitely happened! Any advice? Any markers I’ve put in the ground disappear by fall. I’m guessing some gardeners would tell me not to worry about it, just stick them in, whatever is damaged will heal, and if it doesn’t, there are plenty more to take its place… but, I’ve always wondered and never asked! Thanks :-).
So true! I still haven’t planted my spring bulbs, I really need to get out there and do it too.