Keep this woman digging!
I know it was my idea, although Gail had a lot to do with it. But who would guess that 1,000 crocus bulbs would take soooo long to plant.
I did think that I would get a bit more help from Ian, but (unfortunately) he found his own project to work on, and I was on my own. (OK, not quite on my own, he did dig a couple of holes for me, maybe 80, before he bailed).
Lets see, 1,000 crocus tommasinianus bulbs divided by 80 holes = 12.5 per hole, I can handle that.
But I have 150 fritillaria meleagris bulbs to plant. At 10 per hole, that was only another 15 holes, I can handle that.
Wait, I forgot the 50 allium christophii bulbs, I can handle that!
Hmmm, it looks a lot more close-up!
OK, due to circumstances beyond my control (Ian), I would not be back to Kilbourne Grove till Hallowe’en, so I wanted to get the bulbs in. I had already planted all the other ones, I was a woman on a mission!
The fritillaria are going in the front, on each side of the front sidewalk in the grass. (I saw that at Kensington Gardens in London and loved the way it looked). That is only 7 holes per side, oh no, I did not order enough fritillaria!
It is going to look sparse, oh well, hopefully they will self seed, and there is always next year, lol.
Fritillaria bulbs are a nice size to pick up, drop them in the hole, put the chunk of sod back and firm down, there that didn’t take too long.
Now onto the back.
This looks a lot better. The holes are much closer together, hopefully I will get a nice show.
Ooooh, fiddly bulbs, why are they so tiny….slooow going! Done!!!!!
The allium were a piece of cake in comparision, 10 holes in the Lime Walk, 5 per side, 5 bulbs in, and finished.
Come visit me next spring for the grand unveil, see you then!
I am a floral designer living in a tiny condo in downtown Toronto, Canada's largest city. But on the weekend, I am a gardener/frustrated architect trying to keep up with a 3/4 acre garden in Owen Sound, Ontario, a warm (to Canadians, Zone 5b, and a cold (to Americans, Zone 4b) garden.
Green Theatre 
Lynne said,
October 15, 2010 @ 6:06 AM
Ooh, I can’t wait until they settle in and put on a show. Particularly the alliums. I luurve those 🙂
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:02 AM
Me too!!! I am really looking forward to it.
Laurrie said,
October 15, 2010 @ 8:01 AM
It will be a treat to see the effect next spring! It does seem like a massive amount of bulbs is needed even for a small show. I was amazed my first year gardening that the 150 bulbs I planted looked so sparse. The space needed 1,500! You’ve certainly got the right idea with the amounts you are putting in, and it will look so nice.
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:03 AM
It is crazy how many you need. I feel like even 1,500 will not look like enough. Maybe 1500 a year times 10 years will do.
Valerie said,
October 15, 2010 @ 8:27 AM
Wow that is a lot of planting. I can’t wait to see the spring show.
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:04 AM
Mee too, Valerie. I am already starting to count the days till spring.
The Idiot Gardener said,
October 15, 2010 @ 9:26 AM
That’s a job and a half. Well done yourself!
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:04 AM
High praise coming from you.
Edith Hope said,
October 15, 2010 @ 10:40 AM
Dearest D, Lifting the turf and planting the bulbs in groups is certainly the best way to plant small bulbs I have found over the years. I am sure that it is going to look wonderful and I am thrilled that more Alliums are to go into the Lime Walk – they were so effective last year. Roll on Spring!!
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:05 AM
It really was very fast planting in the turf. The alliums in the Lime Walk took a bit more time. Now I am already thinking that I didn’t plant enough, lol.
Marguerite said,
October 15, 2010 @ 10:55 AM
Great job! I only had 75 bulbs to plant and a week in I still haven’t finished the job. It’ll take me years to catch up to your numbers. Can’t wait to see how the checkered lilies look, such a delightful little flower.
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:07 AM
There is nothing like having time constraints Marguerite, to get your butt in gear. I knew if I didn’t get them in now, I wouldn’t be up to KG for a few weeks. It has snowed in November (and stayed) before.
Curbstone Valley Farm said,
October 15, 2010 @ 11:38 AM
Deborah, It will be so much fun to see all these in bloom in spring! I intentionally avoided small bulbs this year as we’re so busy. I hope your back isn’t too sore after all that! I stuck just to more daffodils for this year. My cordless drill, and bulb planting auger await! 😛
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:08 AM
I still want to try one of the bulb augers. I find the small bulbs easier to plant, just one huge hole.
patty said,
October 15, 2010 @ 12:00 PM
OOh, my back and knees are aching for you. Looking forward to the spring photos.
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:08 AM
It helped to have Ian dig the majority of the holes.
allanbecker-gardenguru said,
October 15, 2010 @ 12:32 PM
Can hardly wait to see your pics of the bulbs next spring.
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:09 AM
I am looking forward to it too!
Carolflowerhillfarm said,
October 15, 2010 @ 1:24 PM
Well Done Deborah! Wow! You put me to shame for I have not planted one bulb yet. Gosh I cannot wait to see your garden come spring. Here is to no voles or other critters finding your precious stash. ;>)
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:10 AM
I have waited too long in past years Carol, and had to scrape the snow off the ground first. This year I was determined to get a jump on it.
Garden Walk Garden Talk said,
October 15, 2010 @ 5:51 PM
Hi Deborah,
I too planted bulbs today. Alliums, lilies and tomorrow the tulips. Nowhere near the quantities that you have. The Frits will look great in the grass. I can not wait to see your display next year. That is what is so great about bulbs, always something to look forward to.
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:11 AM
It is like hiding a present and finding it months later. Such delicious anticipation.
Ria said,
October 15, 2010 @ 7:13 PM
Oh lordy – You are one for self-torture aren’t you? Well at least it’s done my love. I can’t imagine you’ll be complaining when you see all those beautiful nodding heads next year. I have considered naturalizing some bulbs around our garden at the bottom, but I think I’ll leave that till next year… 😉
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:12 AM
Yeah, I think there is a word for that, lol. It will be worth it in the spring.
Jennifer said,
October 15, 2010 @ 7:30 PM
Great work! You put me to shame as well. I still haven’t bought more than a few bulbs. I look forward to seeing them all in bloom come spring.
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:13 AM
Jennifer, bulbs are my absolutely favourite, favourite thing in the garden. I can never have enough.
Rebecca @ In The Garden said,
October 15, 2010 @ 7:49 PM
Goodness Deborah, you are a busy digger!! I have 24 tulips waiting to go in, and my arms hurt thinking about it. Yes, I have become that lazy!
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:13 AM
Get the great golden wonder to start digging the holes for you, lol.
Northern Shade said,
October 15, 2010 @ 9:19 PM
That’s a big sack of bulbs. You’re going to have a wonderful display in spring. Planting bulbs is one of my favourite gardening jobs, because I forget winter, and start imagining spring.
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:14 AM
Just thinking about the beauty coming keeps you going, doesn’t it.
Jean said,
October 15, 2010 @ 10:28 PM
Congratulations on getting all your bulbs planted! It looks like you had good weather for doing it. And, come spring, you’re going to be so happy that you dug all those holes and planted all those bulbs!
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:15 AM
It was great weather, and made the job sooo much more enjoyable.
Racquel said,
October 16, 2010 @ 8:23 AM
That is alot of bulbs and a massive task to take on. Can’t wait to see how it all pays off next spring! 🙂
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:15 AM
I am hoping that not too many squirrels find them.
Rosie said,
October 16, 2010 @ 1:58 PM
I can’t wait to see them in growth Deborah – but you sure have your work cut out for you just now. I hope there are no blisters on those hands.
As for the colchicums – watch this space – I’m planning on doing another blog post on them as that “leaning” is a subject that will be mentioned
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:17 AM
No blisters on my hands, Rosie, not sure about Ians, lol. I can’t wait to find out what your ‘secret’ is with colchicums.
Debbie said,
October 16, 2010 @ 2:54 PM
Whoa, that’s ALOT of bulbs…can’t wait to see the photos of the flowers in the spring. I put in a few hundreds daffs last year, but with the help of my teenage son and an auger attached to an electric drill and that was exhausting.
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:18 AM
Planting daffs is waaay more work, you notice that they are mostly small bulbs. I keep wanting to try a bulb auger, maybe when I buy a lot of larger bulbs.
PatioPatch said,
October 17, 2010 @ 7:41 AM
Dear Deborah – lifting the turf is back breaking enough, let alone planting all these bulbs. Still, I am sure you’ll be focusing on the ultimate Spring riot of colour as you countdown each planting. It will look fabulous and thanks for doing the sums re how many of what per hole. Very informative
Laura
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:19 AM
If I didn’t have Ian, I would be complaining a lot more, lol. He really made it easy for me.
michael 'hazeltree' thompson said,
October 17, 2010 @ 11:37 AM
Dear Deborah, felt quite exhausted reading your post but i’m sure your hard work will produce dividends…
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:20 AM
I hope so, now we will see if tommasinianus are really squirrel resistant.
Charlotte Snyder said,
October 17, 2010 @ 8:18 PM
By spring your back should no longer ache so you will be able to enjoy your beautiful blooms. I can’t wait to see them.
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:21 AM
I have already forgotten how much work it was, and already wishing that I had planted more!
Barbara said,
October 18, 2010 @ 11:05 AM
My bulbs are all in now, too, and I found the hardest part was deciding what would go where. You seem to have a master plan at least, and it sounds great. I can’t wait to see your spring photos, and hope your alliums don’t get devoured by slugs like mine did.
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:22 AM
It is very hard deciding what goes where, I always seem to slice into bulbs already in the ground. This house I have learned a bit, and I am planting bulbs heavily whenever I make a new bed. Then I don’t have to worry.
debsgarden said,
October 19, 2010 @ 12:13 AM
I am looking forward to the results! No doubt you will gaze out over all your blooming bulbs and immediately start planning where the next groups of bulbs need to go. Like childbirth, we quickly forget the labor once the beautiful results are delivered.
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:23 AM
I already have forgotten, and need more, lol.
Anna said,
October 19, 2010 @ 6:11 AM
My bulb order has still to arrive and I am daunted at the thought but compared to what you have planted it all pales into insignificance. Men always seem to find other projects at convenient times but well done you for your hard labour. You will duly be rewarded 🙂
kilbournegrove said,
November 3, 2010 @ 7:24 AM
It only took him half an hour to dig all the holes and then he was gone. I am glad that my bulbs arrived early, you never know when it will snow.