Who doesn’t love tulips? And who cannot be intrigued with these exquisite flowers that originated in Turkey and made their way to the Netherlands in the 1600s, prompting a trading frenzy — and causimg a speculative economic bubble characterized as”Tulipmania.”

Next to peonies, these tall elegant ladies would have to be my favorites. But it takes a strong constitution, both on my part and theirs, to withstand the challenges of the cold, rainy conditions that seem to be typical of “spring,” March and April, in New England (which I’ve come to realize is an oxymoron). However, I enthusiastically marshaled on prepping, planting, anticipating and party planning, but I was rained out more times than not (the image with the Orangerie, below, was taken under just such conditions).

I “live and learned.” Our satisfying solution for tulips in the spring? Planting bulbs in large plastic pots which give us the flexibility of putting them out when weather permits (a bit of a challenge since we don’t have a greenhouse, but being able to enjoy tulips at this time of the year is worth being creative!). They are then placed into garden containers positioned strategically to be viewed from the house.

The silver lining in this exercise is that we plant additional pots to serve us well inside also, moving them around the house as the mood strikes (this is made easier by the “plant trolleys” created from the original bases of the columns to our pergola).

Then in mid-May, the hardiest of tulips that were planted in the garden rear their heads and bring their charm to specific garden plantings. The most satisfying to me, because it is an opportunity for a pairing one doesn’t often see, is in the “black and white” garden.  ‘Black Night’ parrot tulips and crystalline white parrots serve as a foil to each other in a dramatic combination.

TIP: For the best show, dig your tulips after they bloom (pull out the entire stem with bulb) and plant new bulbs each year.

The color combinations possible with tulips are endless, and one gardener’s pleasure for me is creating my own collection. With a focus on apricot, peach, russet and soft rose, these four tulips are a long-awaited mid-May treat.

‘Daydream’ – Photo Credit: Longfield Gardens

‘Toronto’ – Photo Credit: Longfield Gardens

‘Apricot Impression’ – Photo Credit: Longfield Gardens

‘Princess Irene’ – Photo Credit: Longfield Gardens

Or, you may purchase the “Triumph Brilliant Mix” which well illustrates what I noted above. This mix successfully provides a welcome  movement and depth created by the juxtaposition of colors.

There are subtle opportunities when pairing plant material and tulips that can be easily overlooked. Rusty red berberis and just the right shade of orchid purple illustrate this point well; a thorny berberis and a swanlike tulip. Opposites attract!

Still others take advantage of low growing spring perennials whose color are a perfect contrast to the delicious shades of tulips.

It is also informative to see the varying sites that others have chosen for decorating with tulips…from an informal meadow-like setting…

…to a city sidewalk garden bed.

One breed of tulip, parrot, is to me just down right sexy! It would seem I’m not alone in this sentiment; they were the stars of that “tulipmania” I mentioned earlier, to be found in Flemish paintings and even inspiring a container — known as a tulipiere — for showing off each individual stem.

Many of these “Broken” breeds are the result of a virus, but breeders now can achieve similar color breaks genetically. Those 17th century “flamed and feathered” tulips shown in the above tulipieres have their counterparts in general circulation today, like the “Rembrandt Mix.”

TIP: The petals of many parrot tulips tend to flay open and not maintain their upright stature that shows them off at their best; this can usually be avoided in these four parrot tulips that I recommend… ‘Texas Flame,’ ‘Black Parrot,’ ‘White Parrot’ and ‘Silver Parrot.’

‘Texas Flame’ – Photo Credit: Longfield Gardens

‘Black Parrot’ – Photo Credit: Longfield Gardens

‘White Parrot’ – Photo Credit: Longfield Gardens

‘Silver Parrot’ – Photo Credit: Longfield Gardens

From the garden…to a wedding bouquet…tulips fascinate and inspire.

Happy gardening…and then some.