True story of the last tulip standing:

What happens when plants go unprotected.

by Carol A Kalvelage

Hello……………….

I am a novice gardener. I can admit that today. Without the fear of being ridiculed. I can admit that I do not know the difference between a plant and a weed sometimes. I no longer bear the shame of being the daughter of a master gardener who’s thumb was as green as emeralds. My mother’s gardens were, and still are, filled with flowers of every shape, color and size. Cactus, roses, ferns, poppies, those little white flowers, whatever…………My mom could make anything grow. I swear that it even seemed as if some flowers grew right out of the rocks that were used as a border to protect the delicate petals.

Now in retrospect, I think that should have been my first clue as to becoming a successful gardener. Using borders to protect plants. There always seemed to be little fences, and spiky things, and rock walls that would keep the good stuff in, and the bad stuff out- like lawnmowers, feet, animals, weed whackers. All the stuff that can be very damaging to flowers. Little did I know how important it was to keep a border around the precious plants to help them thrive while danger lurked about.

So last year I decided to plant some tulip bulbs, out in a nice sunny spot, around my mailbox at the end of the driveway. I put a decorative rock (aka, slab of slate) near the spot where I planted my tulips so I knew where to look for the flowers come spring. Also, I wanted to know where I planted them so I would not back up and run them over with my truck. That was my primary concern. Never mind that we live in a deer and squirrel infested subdivision where flowers are chomped the minute they bloom and bulbs are dug up faster than planted.

In any case, my tulips at the end of the driveway thrived. That was after I lifted the cement slab off of the buds that were trying to come up out of the ground. Sometime in May, I came home one day and there were three huge stalks protruding from the ground. The stalks had tulip buds on them. I was amazed and delighted! I could not believe that my bulb planting was successful. I truly did not know if I planted the bulbs right, as there are no instructions which side to plant down. I must have had a moment of divine guidance and put them in the ground the right way. Last time I tried to plant bulbs, I got leaves, but no flowers. hmmmmm….. My mom said that it may have been the way I put the bulb in the ground. How was I supposed to know?

As the month of May came to,end I would admire my newly sprouting tulips. They had not yet opened, but were getting there. I just knew they would be sensational. And they were– for about one day. And then came the animals, the weed whacker and the feet.

I don’t know exactly when it all happened, but I remember the day when the tulips opened and they were gorgeous. I was so proud. I wanted to show my mother. 3 tulips, standing tall, like soldiers at the end of my drive– planted perfectly by the mailbox, giving my yard a twinkle of deep purple in the spring. And then I came home, and there were 2. Two beautiful tulips and one stalk with the flower taken at the top. My heart sank……. I should have known then to put in a border and protect the two, but no………I had to learn the hard way.

Within the next 24 hours, the next tulip went down. I’m still blaming the lawn guy– it had to be because on that day, I heard the lawn service guy going to town with the weed whacker. I really do like my lawn guys- they are very good and very reasonable. So I have to blame myself for not protecting my tulip, which was entangled with some weeds–Oops……. and then there was one. One lone tulip……..

And there it is. Picture perfect, to the right of my mailbox, by the cement marker. Did I learn my lesson yet? No….because I have not had the guts to plant anymore. I do not want to be held responsible for any more losses. However, I did find these cute Round Folding Fence Borders from Garden Zone. Ideal for protecting all plants, trees, shrubs, and anything else you don’t want disturbed, these Folding Fence Borders are a perfect compliment to any garden.

The Round Folding Fence Border by Garden Zone is available in a variety of sizes for all gardening needs. A 10 ft. x 10″ by Garden Zone is a great border for sidewalks, driveways, gardens and helps to protect shrubs, flowers and plants. Stakes into the ground for easy set-up. Folds flat for storage. Available in green or white.

Garden Zone also features a 18 in. x 8 ft. round folding fence for protecting shrubs, flowers and plants and a 24 in. x 10 ft fence. Or, if needed for a larger space, the Garden Zone has a Classic Magnolia Garden Border that is great for protecting shrubs, flowers and plants. The Magnolia can make accent fence or border and links together easily for easy set-up. This fence is heavy duty and coated for durability.

All Garden Zone folding fence borders can be found by visiting http://www.backyardstyle.com/. I’m happy to report that the last tulip standing did last for at least two weeks. I checked it almost every day to make sure nothing could get it. I never did enclose that one tulip-and it made it until the last petal dropped. By then, it was too late to show my mom. There’s always next year…..