Autumn Dreaming:Bulbs

It has so freakin' hot and humid for sooooo long and the weather keeps forecasting a break and then pushing it back. Ugh. It never got crazy hot this year in the 100's like other years, but you try 90's with 70 percent humidity for a while and you'll be wishing for a nice dry heat. Oh, well, the latest forecast is for lower humidity by Thursday and a beginning to dip into the upper 60's at night.

So, in wild anticipation of all the garden bed expansion I've been putting off for this vaunted cool front, I ordered bulbs from McClure & Zimmerman today. Not nearly so many as I'd have ordered Up North, but things that will naturalize well here, and that I cannot find in these parts:

Wild Tulips For Deep South (No cold period required; 6 each of):

• Tulipa sylvestris: "Sweet scented and multiflowered Yellow with a hint of green on outer petals which curl curiously. Pendant in bud, flowers upright." (Hmm, I ordered the collection then when I went to see these individually, they said they were no longer available--wonder if they've sold out everything BUT what's in the collections, or if they'll be sending me a replacement?)
  
• Tulipa bakeri "Lilac Wonder": "Rosy-lavender, large circular lemon-yellow base, anthers yellow." (pictured right)
• Tulipa clusiana var. chrysantha: "Deep yellow, reverse outer petals are crimson with or without a yellow edge."
• Tulipa clusiana:"This selection of the species is cream inside, outside cream with a broad red band from top to bottom, deep purple center."
• Tulipa saxatilis: "Rosy-lilac with a yellow base. This wild Cretian species needs poor soil, moderate winter and hot summer." (Wow--apparently we've got the same conditions as Crete!)

Fall-blooming Crocus (These will be the first fall-bloomers I'll have planted here, and I'll be interested to see when and how long they'll bloom):

• Crocus laevigatus fontenayi: "A fine little Greek species. Blooming in December to February, it may need a sheltered location. Purple-feathered, buff-colored buds open flat to reveal a starry, rose-lilac center. Scented like freesia." (right)
  
• Crocus pulchellus: "Lilac flowers with a deep yellow throat and white anthers rise without leaves around the end of September. The honey-scented blooms have a satiny texture. From the Balkan peninsula."

I'll round these out by buying more at the Big Box Stores--daffodils, muscari, hyacinths, spring-blooming croci, etc. I've had really good luck with having those come back each season.