[parrot tulips - 'Orange Favourite', I think]
The tulips are fiery, bright, brilliant and hot. Unfortunately for them, so is the weather. This means they are romping through their season far too quickly and early; I see that the catalogue says that 'Florosa', which is at its statueseque peak today, usually flowers in mid-May.
I have a gloriously hot mix of red 'Sky High Scarlet', vermilion 'Avignon', and tangerine 'Orange Sun' (with 'Fantasy' parrots) which were emanating this warmth and richness at 9am.
['Cairo']
I also found a little clump of 'Cairo' tulips crouching under some of the taller, more ostentatious sorts. This is the first year I have grown it, and I'll be planting it again in autumn. It is an exquisite bronze/marmalade colour with definite hints of brown, and fine markings that look as though they have been carefully etched on. It's unshowy yet quite beautiful.
They have pride of place in my 'specimen' vases (LSA Pablo vase @ £10) into which I put a few stems of particularly lovely tulips so that I can watch them in domestic laboratory conditions.
[I very much like the fact that I have picked 'Cairo' on a day when it is actually hotter here than there.]
Wow, that Cairo is gorgeous. Have been enjoying living vicariously through your tulip garden each morning =) Unfortunately, I have a black thumb.
Posted by: Katie | April 21, 2011 at 15:59
I really can't wait to plant my garden with tulip bulbs this autumn, you have so converted me :)
Sue Xx
Posted by: Sue | April 21, 2011 at 17:23
No fair! Send us some of your heat please! We're still getting morning frosts a month after our usual date here in West Coast Canada (where it's usually pretty similar to your climate). Brrr...my garden is suffering and most tulips are barely out yet. BTW yours are incredible!
Posted by: Louisa | April 21, 2011 at 18:23
I just love your tulips.I have grown them for the first time thus year and I am thrilled with them.I think I could get addicted.many more will be bought in the autumn.
Posted by: busybusybeejay | April 21, 2011 at 19:36
Your tulip photos have been beautiful!!! The sunshine has been fab, but it has definitely brought the flowers on sooo early!!!
Posted by: jacky | April 21, 2011 at 20:10
Jane, Have a Happy Easter in Tulip land! Ingrid xx
Posted by: Ingrid | April 21, 2011 at 21:42
Inspired by you, I planted blue-black-purple, ivory and yellow parrot tulips. I want more, and your photos are encouraging me!
Posted by: Roz | April 21, 2011 at 23:30
Some of my Tulips have bolted- just the heads and no stalks. _Maybe planted too late! However your pictures are amazing- have discussed taking a larger area of the garden for bulbs for next year.
Posted by: caroline auckland | April 21, 2011 at 23:33
So enjoying your tulip photos here in Seattle.
Posted by: www.mystudioview.com | April 22, 2011 at 01:38
I'm loving your tulip photos. The one of Cairo is exquisite!
Posted by: Laura | April 22, 2011 at 15:44
So very beautiful! Thanks for sharing and brightening my day! :)
Posted by: Boo | April 23, 2011 at 02:47
"I've an April blindness..." from all your glorious tulips. I love to wallow in the lushness of them every year. Thank you!
Posted by: Earin | April 23, 2011 at 17:34
Thank you for your glorious tulips. I can't think that I've ever seen tulips like yours anywhere in our part of the world. I feel a quilt coming on. Such inspiration.
Posted by: Merilyn | April 24, 2011 at 00:33