Happy Earth Day, friends!

It’s been a late spring, and I thought you deserved to see some beautiful spring flowers, so it was out of complete selflessness that I drove to Ted Ensley Gardens in Topeka, KS this week to take pictures of tulips in bloom.  It definitely had nothing to do with the fact that tulips are my favorite flower and that the 9.5 acre garden has more than 50,000 tulips on display.  Nope, my motivation was completely altruistic.  I enjoyed Tulip Time in Topeka for you.

Last year was the first fall I tried planting bulbs, and the ‘Spring Beauty’ crocus were a delightful promise of spring throughout March.  There has been a definite gap between the crocus fading and the rest of the garden awakening, though, so next year I have a plan:

That’s right, my plan is to plant tulip bulbs by the hundreds this fall.  After seeing what tulips look like when planted densely in large groups, I realized that is the only way to plant them.  (Tulip Time in Hillsdale, anyone?)  I can’t imagine how many hours it takes to plant 50,000 bulbs, but I can tell you the result is incredible.

The colors were stunning, and would brighten even the dreariest day.

Tulip Time was started in Topeka almost 30 years ago at the home garden of Jerold Binkley, who dreamed of it becoming a countywide event.  The event, now in its 12th official year, has expanded to three locations around the city and two fun events: a one-day festival at the lake and lighted displays nightly during a two-week period.  Tulip Time Festival at the Lake is at Ted Ensley Botanical Garden and includes a pancake breakfast (that alone should be reason to go) and a classic car show.  Tulips at Twilight is at the Ward-Meade Botanical Garden and has more than 40,000 tulips lit by candlelight.  Next year I will definitely be checking out Tulips at Twilight!

Hats off to the people who plan and plant the displays; not only does it take hard work to plant the bulbs, but the thoughtful design and planning is obvious as you stroll around the gardens.  They clearly chose some fun varieties to keep things interesting.

There are hundreds of tulip varieties at the gardens, and the four horticulturists who design the beds combine them like masterful artists.  I’m sure it’s a result of years of experience, but they sure make it look effortless.   I’ll have to remember some of these ideas when I get ready to plant.

No matter where you were in the garden, it seemed that there was an amazing photo just waiting to be taken as you stepped back to take in the view. I’m sure this was intentional as part of the overall garden design, and it’s something I need to remember to do in my own garden: step back and look  from a distance while I’m laying out new beds.  Each bed is its own unique area, but it is also part of a greater whole.

Tulips are pretty fantastic flowers — not only are they beautiful, but they can take the crazy cold snaps we’ve had lately like champs.  From what I’ve learned, they have a neat vascular system that drains the water from the stems and leaves when it gets below freezing, stores it in their roots, and then sends it back up when temperatures go back above freezing.   While tulips are perennials in their native environment (think Eastern Turkey and the foothills of the Himalaya mountains), here in the U.S. they typically don’t do very well in subsequent years, blooming less and less.  If you’re looking for an amazing display every year, treat them as annuals, pulling them up after they’ve died back and planting new bulbs in the fall.

Are you as inspired as I am to plant some tulip bulbs this fall?  They certainly have a beauty and simple elegance that would add to any garden, large or small.  I’m thinking I’ll stick with pinks, purples, and whites, and plant as many of them as I possibly can.  A blogger in Oklahoma I follow planted 700 in her front yard last fall, and the resulting show was spectacular!  Her tip was to dig wide holes and plant many bulbs shoulder-to-shoulder in each hole.  That certainly sounds easier than digging 700 tiny holes, even if you do have a bulb auger!

If you’re within driving distance of Topeka, check out their Tulip Time events and show them some support to keep it going.  If not, find a tulip festival in your area.  You won’t regret it!