A PERFECT Dandelion House Day

 Warm sun and a slight breeze coming off the ocean under bright bright blue skies were my backdrop today for planting the last of the dahlias tubers and the first 50 gladiolus corms. 

What a joy is was to be outside playing in the dirt again. I didn't mind breaking a sweat - AT ALL!

I purchases my tubers from various sources this year. Some I got at my favorite local nursery, others I picked up at a discount store that sells garden supplies ( I won't do that again as some of the tubers were  moldy and beginning to rot in the package). I also placed a dahlia order with Longfield Gardens. They have some lovely combinations like the Sunrise collection below!

 Yup. I ordered several of those pretty babies!

Sunrise Mix from Longfield Gardens

 

 

 

 

Cafe-Au-Lait from Longfield Gardens

These beautiful buff colored blooms are all the rage in wedding flowers right now and they're simply stunning in the garden and by the bunches placed in a vase.

 Don't be afraid to add these easy to grow dahlia tubers and Gladiolus corms to your gardens this year. It's as easy as digging a hole in the ground ( fertile, well draining soil in full to part sun is preferred ) and letting the magic begin! 

Dandelion House Glads 2013

  Just be sure to stake them when you plant. They grow tall and heavy and need the support.

Stay tuned for my How to Grow Dahlias Post. 

That's all for now... Time for iced tea and a nap.

 Now that's A PERFECT Dandelion House Day!

BEST Summer Bulbs for Cutting

 You know you've got a serious case of gardenitus when you're planting bulbs in the rain.

That was me last Saturday afternoon. Now that most of the cool spring weather has passed I'm excited to get my summer bulbs in the ground. If you've been with me for a while now, you know that I planted upwards of 50 dahlias last year in my raised bed cut flower garden and they did not disappoint! Here in New England, now's the time to plant your summer bulbs! 

I'm planting my beloved dahlias again, and I'm trying some new bulbs too.

Gladiolus are an old fashioned favorite of mine so I made room for about 50 of those too! 

I'll be growing a solid red, white bloom plus a mixed bag of different colors. 

Look how pretty those red bulbs are! 

Oriental Lilly's are another favorite of mine for cutting. Do you see those holes on the leaves? BEWARE!

 The Asiatic beetle also loves these plants and will chew it down to the nub if you don't kill them first.

Dahlia Bed

I've got a few other garden surprises up my sleeve for this growing season so stay tuned! Things are about to get REAL COLORFUL around here!

I hope you'll make  some room for a few of these beautiful flowering summer bulbs in your garden this season! They are all perfect for cutting and will add a touch of drama to your house flower arrangements all season long.