I am in love with my tulips. It was a pre-meditated emotion, although I never expected it to be so strong. Last fall I loaded up a new audio book on my iPod, dumped three hundred dried and ugly bulbs into a large bowl, stirred them, then stepped outside into the cold, windy October day. As the clouds spit occasional drops of rain at my neighborhood, I hacked at the chilled dirt around our house with an ancient trowel and carefully placed bulb after bulb into the loosened soil. This better be worth it, I thought as an icy drop of rain struck the back of my neck, followed immediately by a gust of wind.
Later, after my aching muscles healed and the last lines of the story I’d been listening to faded away, I began to forget which types of plants I’d so carefully buried in the fall-caked soil. I did not try to keep this information, but let it drift along on the same rivers of forgetfulness that have carried away far more important details — friends’ birthdays, state capitals, the proper spelling of hors d’ovouers. ( <– This is not it.)
All winter I eyed the patches of dirt, waiting for signs of stirring. A few days ago we finally had foliage. And today we have these:
I knew I had tulips, but I did not know they would so far surpass the ordinary varietals. They are flanked by grape hyacinths and other purple flowers whose name I’m certain I’ve never known. Other greenery has begun to emerge from the ground all around them. They will soon bear their own flowers, and I will be surprised all over again.
I do so love spring. Especially when I plant ahead for it.
As much as I like to look at them, I’m not one for gardening. My parents used to make us help them with the garden when we were younger, and my sister and I HATED it! Of course, it was probably because they were forcing us on threat of death (grounding) that we HAD to do it, but still… I live in apartments now, and find I rather enjoy not having to do yard work (or shovel snow, for that matter!). Though, I always do enjoy a nice garden to look at!
Just popping in to say that you haven’t seen me around the comments section on this post because I’m responding by e-mail. And if I haven’t done so yet, don’t feel neglected. It will happen as soon as I’m back on my regular computer, the one that gets all my e-mail.
Oh, your tulips are gorgeous. It really is like watching Spring awaken, isn’t it?
Hi, Caryn! The tulips are beautiful! And your photos – wow! You’re not only a great writer, but a great photographer too. Enjoy all your purple flowers and Happy Spring! 🙂
p.s. There’s a nice article on Sara Gruen in this month’s Writer’s Digest.
Caryn,
Nice tulips! It is nice to see results!
We had “bulb flowers” pop up this year that we haven’t seen in about six years. We thought they all died out or the squirrels got them.
My seven-year-old (along with his grandmother to supervise) was allowed to plant daffodils and tulips last fall. It was fun watching this spring to see where they would pop up based on his idea of a garden.
Beautiful. 🙂
To me, spring always feels like the real New Year (unlike that dark day on January 1st).
Oh, looking at those pictures makes me want to garden.
Where I live, we skip spring and go straight into summer. I think today we’ll be in the mid-90s.
Your sweat and toil rewarded you with beauty, Caryn. Just imagine living in Holland…*sigh*
I love tulips; love love LOVE! Happy Spring!
xox