Large-Cupped Daffodil

Large-Cupped Daffodil
Narcissus
(nar-SIS-us)

Since over the years I have 100's or even 1000’s of Daffodil shots I was trying to do something creative here. The trumpet picture of this yellow and orange daff is what I ended up with. The flower had been beaten over by the rain and was hanging completely upside down. In hindsight I probably would have included a little more of the subject in a more centered composition. It was really windy when this picture was taken and it was quickly snapped between the monster gusts.

Here is a picture of some Hyacinth bulbs we saw blooming in a container outside of Grand Central Terminal. I liked them because they combined two of my favorite flower colors purple and blue.

Dutch Hyacinth

Dutch Hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis
(hy-uh-SIN-thus) (or-ee-en-TAY-liss)

Despite the weather, which again today is rainy and cold, the Hyacinths have started to bloom. Over the last two years I have done two fairly large plantings of these bulbs. I learned something from the way I did it. For the first year I ordered a collection of 6 of ten different varieties and planted them in groups of three along a perennial border next to the driveway and it has looked good for the last two years.

Last fall the owner of one of the gardens I was working came out and said, “I ordered these” and handed my 75 Hyacinth bulbs of the same variety (forget what it was). On one hand it was disappointing to me that they were all the same on the other I was happy to have them for the garden. The garden is a bit, um, cramped but very charming and it was struggle to find some place to put them. I planted some groups of 10 and a few 5’s around some semicircular edging in the rose/herb garden and forgot about them. This spring I noticed what kind of looked like a miniature volcano of dirt lifting where I planted the bulbs. That was a first fr me. All of the dirt around the bulbs and on top was lifting up like sod. This should be interesting I thought. When I went back several days later (after a lot of rain) the bulbs were up and starting to bloom. The soil had sifted back down to the ground and everything was fine. I couldn’t believe how nice my little pink forest looked and smelled.

So I think the all of one variety, heavily planted groups were better than stretching out the different varieties. The picture is of a lone bulb that is probably from a long ago planting. The color is much hotter than most.

Dutch Hyacinth

Dutch Hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis
(hy-uh-SIN-thus) (or-ee-en-TAY-liss)

Almost everyone knows this sweet smelling flower. They aren’t blooming here yet but I did see some of the foliage popped out of the ground the other day. I bought these for Easter and have kept them outside on the front step. It is amazing to me that they really took some cold nights (guessing the mid-teens F) with just a little tinge of damage on the top of one of the stalks, which is hardly noticeable. Hyacinths are very hardy in the ground surviving into USDA Zone 3, but this the first time I could see how hardy the flower was. Gardeners south of Zone 7 should treat them as annuals.


There are over 60 cultivars to choose from with a great range of colors. The six lobed petals range from lightly spreading to fully reflexed. There are single and double flowered types and many are strongly scented. This pink one didn’t have a cultivar name but it was nice getting a whiff of it while photographing it in the late afternoon sun. I am wondering if this is one of the Multiflora Group, as it has several stalks per plant.

I like these flowers planted in masses or at least large clumps. They mix well with daffodils and mid-season tulips. I plant annuals over them to hide the foliage after they are done blooming.

Hyacinths

Hyacinths
Hyacinthus orientalis
(hy-uh-SIN-thus)

Yesterday I went down to Manhattan with the idea I would try out the 50mm/1.8 lens at the Museum of Modern Art. When I got down there at the 10:30 opening time the line to get in was just too long already so I decided to take the subway down to Chelsea and have a walk around. I went by the Wholesale Flower District on 28th Street and see if I could get a few snaps. It was a little depressing as many of the shops have closed and many weren’t open on Saturday. I did manage these shots of Hyacinths that one of the stores had placed on racks outside. These were shot with the 17-70mm Sigma lens, except for the sign picture which I used the 50mm.


Dutch Hyacinths are familiar to most every gardener. They have been in cultivation in Europe since the 1500’s. Their colorful, fragrant spikes are always welcome in the spring. I actually know a few people that don’t care for them but I think they are in the minority. They compliment nicely with Daffodils and can also stand on their own. They are best planted in clumps in well drained soil. They are quite hardy (USDA Zone 4, for most) and are lovely when forced. The blooms are long lasting and make excellent cut flowers. There are literally hundreds of cultivars to choose from. I usually plant annuals over them after they have bloomed sine this hides the dying foliage.

These are a couple of other shots I got when I was walking around Chelsea, it is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Manhattan. I will probably be posting some MoMA pictures and some other various NYC pictures this week. I will be working full-time sine it looks like we are in for a solid January thaw coming up.

This was a florist by the Chelsea Market on 15th Street.

I got a chuckle out of this one. I knew I was king of something! (:lol:)


Its like Tom Petty said:
“Its good to be king and have your own way Get a feeling of peace at the end of the day And when your bulldog barks and your canary sings You’re out there with winners, its good to be king”