It has been a busy year, with so much blooming and so many people wanting to hear about bulbs. Just came back from Monroe, Louisiana where I spoke at the Biedenharn Museum. I drank so many Coca-Colas that I was wired by the end of my last talk (Mr. Biedenharn was the first gentleman to put Coca-Cola in a bottle—and by the way, they took the cocaine out in 1903).

One of the things we have been busy with is digging bulbs, but I’d like to point out that we have been busy with the Highway 69 expansion project—not old homesites. Just south of our beloved little Mineola, Texas, they are taking the highway from two lanes to four. I have been watching the development for a couple years now, and it is nearing its final stages. The TX DOT (Texas Department of Transportation) gentleman gave me call and let me know that some of the sites I mentioned to him were about to be bulldozed. I went out and talked to the contractor, and he said “Son, you better get what you can, because in two weeks this hill won’t be here.” When we went to dig, a large patch of Lycoris radiata was already gone, so we have lost no time over this spring season getting what we before the machinery comes. Some hills and bulbs are already gone and covered in pavement. I know bulbs are tough, but there are some things they can’t come up through. Thus, we have been digging there on many days and are coming home exhausted.

I continue to drive to many of my talks, and am blessed to have so many wonderful people give me bulbs from their old gardens to grow. With the press this year, there have been a lot of bulbs sent in to me. We are doing our best to grow them all out, identify, and propagate them. It really feels as if we have a piece of Southern heritage growing in our field. We are propagating one clump of Narcissus tazetta italicus that was given to us from the home of A.C. Horton, a Texas Revolutionary captain who originally came from Alabama and recruited a militia for the Texas independence movement with his own money. His house was torn down a couple years ago in Wharton County, and soon these bulbs might be some of the only things from him that we have left. It is a joy to work with these bulbs and put them in hands of people that value and treasure them, and we will keep working towards that end.

As always, rules of bulb digging prevail. We only dig bulbs were people give permission and don’t want them (usually indicated by burn piles, trash piles, habitual mowing, cars parked on top, or commercial properties about to be developed.) Life is too short to be put in any other situation and my conscience would weigh upon me. This is a picture that was sent to me by Cynthia in College Station.

Always leave bloom size bulbs behind so that some might survive in the area in spite of the development. In landscapes and abandoned spots that folks wish to preserve, dig up clumps and harvest bulbs, but leave bloom size bulbs behind and do not dig so much as to alter the appearance. I recently was given permission to dig a row of Narcissus tazetta ‘Grand Primos’ in Central Texas. It was a beautiful row along the front walk, and I happily thinned them out. When it was done, the row looked the same and I had some great bulbs to propagate with.

For all of you who have written and desire for me to come by and dig your bulbs, I am sorry if I have not come by yet and/or written back. Daily I try to organize my paperwork, bills, payroll, etc. to make it less work so I can spend more time on the road and corresponding with folks like you. Please do not hesitate to write or e-mail again.

Again, thank you for all of you that have supported me with bulbs, or even made bulbs available for me to buy—I couldn’t have dug all the crinums we grow with out going into debt to buy more shovels. This has been a fun business and I look forward to continue the efforts of essentially swapping bulbs from across the South and other warm climates. We also are staying committed to trying new bulbs for you to see which will do the best for your yards. I took some pictures of these tulips and Narcissus varieties that have now spent their second year in our field. They are doing well and I will pass on the names and info once results are conclusive.

On another note, the bulbs in all of our back yards continue to make a wonderful splash across the world. These are some pics. from one of our favorite customers in Saudi Arabia. The color and fragrance it brought in this far off place made her day, if not her year. It is a picture of a Grand Primo (Narcissus tazetta ‘Grand Primo’) that is blooming in the dessert. Thanks for the pictures Dianne and we look forward to having you back in the states.



The pink flower in bloom at the top of the page is the flower of a Loropetalum bush.