Papagoi lend

Kaks sügist tagasi ostsin paraja portsu lahtiselt müügis olnud papagoitulbisibulaid. Valisin huvitavamaid värvikombinatsioone ja segasin kõik omavahel kokku. Paraku mingit erilist rõõmu nad järgneval kevadel ei toonud. Õied olid pigem nigelad ja kuidagi ei seondunud mäletamismööda kirevate piltidega sibulakastidel. Mõtlesin isegi, et kingin sibulad ära või panen komposti. Suvel võtsin nad üles ja kuivatasin korralikult. Aga kui sügis oli käes, panin ikkagi sibulad enda aeda maha. Sel kevadel on pilt hoopis teine, hiiglaslikud õied on tõesti kirevad kui papagoid rohelises vihmametsas. Vihmamets ise on küll õunaaias siiani niitmata hein antud juhul.

Papagoitulbid lõõmamas/ Flaming parrot tulips

Papagoitulbid/ Parrot tulips

Papagoitulbid/ Parrot tulips

Papagoitulbid/ Parrot tulips

Täna ma ei mõtle enam papagoitulpide äraviskamisele. Pigem vaatan mõne huvitava värvikombinatsiooni juurde ja sätin nad kuhugi suure grupina kokku. Vabalt võiks olla see üks peenar aiamaa servas. Mulle tundub, et mõned lilled sobivad kohe eriti aiavilja ja peenraridadega kokku. Daaliad ja kosmosed näiteks, aga muidugi klassikutena ka saialilled ja mungalilled. Ja kevadel, miks mitte tulbid.

Värvide pillerkaar/ Revel of colours

Kuigi varakevad oli tulpidele raske ning hallituse kahjustusi esines laialdaselt, siis kujunes õitseaeg siiski päris kauniks. Mulle hakkab vähehaaval selgeks saama ka, millised liigid ja sordid on tugevamad, millised nõrgemad. Hilisematest liikidest olen väga rahul häbelike tulpidega ning ka Batalini tulp õitseb igal kevadel väga eeskujulikult. 'Little Beauty'-le pole samuti ühtegi etteheidet teha.

Häbelik tulp/ Tulipa clusiana 'Peppermint Stick'

Häbelik tulp/ Tulipa clusiana 'Peppermint Stick'

Tulipa clusiana var. chrysantha

Tulipa batalinii 'Bright Gem'

Minid ja hiiglased/ Midgets and giants

Järgneval pildil on jäädvustatud situatsioon, kus ma püüdsin kokku sobitada tulbisordid 'Yellow Baby' ja 'Baby Blue'. Mida aga pole, on 'Baby Blue', on miski muu. Aga ka nii pole viga. Vist. Muidugi teatud Hollandi firmade suva, mida nimelisse pakki pistetakse, nörritab küll!

Tulipa 'Yellow Baby' & nameless variety

Mõned meeleoluloojad olgu siia veel ära toodud. Tulpidega ühel pool veel ei ole. Hilised alles alustasid ja mõni sort on veel puhta nupuski.

'Mysterious Parrot', 'Flaming Spring Green' ja 'Carribean Parrot' sel kevadel

'Mysterious Parrot', 'Flaming Spring Green' & 'Carribean Parrot' in this spring

Esimene 'Yellow Spring Green' avanes üleeile/ First 'Yellow Spring Green' opened this Monday

Hilised tulbid/ Single late tulips

Tulpides püsikupeenar/ Perennials bed in tulips time

Tulpides püsikupeenar/ Perennials bed in tulips time

Summary: Flight of Parrot

In fall two years ago I bought a handful of parrot tulips bulbs. They were on wholesale and one could choose whatever the variety and amount. I picked 1-2 bulbs from every box I liked a picture on. But following spring brought little joy. Plants were rather weak and blooms small. Overall look was miserable and not very satisfying. I thought that they were not for me and I should give them away or even compost. In summer I lift them and tried properly. But when next fall arrived, I had no better idea than put them back to my garden. Bulbs looked too good too for just throwing away.

This spring however, it is completely different story with my parrot tulips. They are simply glowing! Big, bold and beautiful! Who could give up on those beauties?! So now I have no thoughts of getting rid of them anymore! I rather consider having those more, as a big bed, full of flamboyant blooms. It's not a bad idea, isn't it?!

In general, it was difficult start of the season for tulips this year. Lot of rain and moisture caused a lot of grey mould on leaves and blooms. But many struggled out nicely and put on good blooms. Some species are acting very reliably, like all T. clusiana varieties and T. batalinii. Tulipa humilis on the other hand was kind of worrying this year.

Rather disappointing is also the discretion of some Dutch bulb companies, which put whatever in their named packs. This year I had a couple of these "surprises" again. My Tulipa 'Yellow Baby' supposed to be paired with 'Baby blue' but is toghether now some nameless tall beauty. At least they bloom on same time and go together rather well.

Some tulips are still about to bloom. So these weren't the last ones! Coming some more!