Native to Turkey, tulips were in cultivation long before they traveled West with Ambassador Busbecq in the mid-1550′s, and many colors and forms must have been present before German artist Konrad Gesner published his famous illustration in 1559 of a long-stemmed, red-flowered tulip. But this painting was the first glimpse Europeans had ever seen of [...]
Tulips are generally impressive, the varieties available from Wayside Gardens this fall are no exception. These new tulips offer an exciting new perspective on an old garden classic. Breeders have definitely taken a few liberties with the traditional tulip blooms and foliage, often looking more like some impressionist rendering of a tulip than a simple [...]
Does anybody remember way back on Dec. 26 when I shared some pictures of the the amaryllis in our office? Well I just thought I would follow up with a picture now that it has bloomed. It really is pretty. If any of you purchased one of the Wayside Garden's Amaryllis this holiday season and [...]
It's obviously too late to order them for the holidays, but there is plenty dull winter left to brighten up, and a huge blooming fragrant houseplant is just what you need. We've got Amaryllis in green, red, and white–the Jade Serpent is my favorite. With up to 8 huge, lime-green to white blooms in just [...]
In most of the country, now is the time to divide your Bearded Iris. You should do this every two or three years in midsummer, after blooming but before the weather starts to turn (July or August, usually). Regular division of the rhizomes does wonders for preventing root rot and borer damage. Plus, it encourages [...]
Does your garden take itself too seriously? The answer to a garden that needs a little playfulness could very well be to grow some onions. Not, of course, the sort of onions that you eat (though that’s not a terrible idea, either). What I’m talking about is ornamental onion plants, Allium. "Allium" refers to the [...]
It is almost time for fall planting, and that means it is time to order your flower bulbs. Wayside gardens has an extensive line of internet exclusive bulbs that will fill your garden with color from late winter right through the next fall.Check out all of our tulip bulbs, crocus bulbs, and the great varieties [...]
Bulbs should be firm and never mushy or rotten—small amounts of surface mold should be okay. If only a small part of the bulb seems to be mushy, try slicing off that part with a knife and stick it in the ground anyway. It’s better to give it a fighting chance than to just assume [...]
Good Research Makes a Happy Gardener While probing for ideas that might add a little intrigue to the pitifully uninspiring flora of my backyard, I was told by a fellow Wayside Gardens employee to check out bog gardens. My first thought was of a marsh or swamp, something more appropriate for a wildlife preserve or [...]
Dear Tamsin, Oh, Back in Black — I saw the P.O. fly by for that one, but had completely forgotten about it! I must say the photo is alluring. I haven’t even paged through Collector’s yet, and it’s driving me crazy. Can you tell me what the best things would be for me to get, [...]