In the summer of 1998, I ordered a number of sampler collections of bulbs from Breck's.  I didn't hold much hope for them, expecting them to rot in our New Jersey clay.  Much to my surprise, most of them bloomed.  The tulips were quite extraordinary, as you can see below! 

It's the end of March 2000, and the first tulips have started to bloom.  Now I know that spring is here! 

It's Good Friday (also Friday the 13th) of 2001, and the first tulip of the season has bloomed.  It was quickly joined by the others.

April Fool's Day, 2002, and wouldn't you know it but the same tulip that bloomed first last year is at it again!  This is the fourth year of bloom from the bulbs, and while some seem to have prospered and multiplied, others have faded away, reducing the variety of tulips that are now growing in the garden.

Tax day, 2003, and the first tulips of the year have bloomed.  Wouldn't you know it, but it's the same one as last year!  The variety of tulips is decreasing -- we're now down to three or four varieties though those have reproduced quite well -- and it may be time to plant more varieties.

It's 10 April 2004 and the first tulip has bloomed; as usual, it's the yellow variety.

Tax day 2005 and the first of the tulips has bloomed. Which one bloomed first was hardly a surprise.

It's mid-May and the parrot tulips, the last to bloom, have at last opened.

As the years go on, we have less and less tulips.  It's late April 2006 and here are those that have bloomed to date.

Early May and the parrot tulips have bloomed.

Late April 2007 brings us the bloom of the few remaining tulips.

Mid- to late-April 2008 has the first tulips in bloom.  The trend of the past years continues and it appears that I will have less tulips once again.  It's perhaps getting time to plant new bulbs.

In early May, the parrot tulip put in an appearance.

In the spring of 2009, I'm down to just these few tulips left.  Time to replant!

In 2010, after the tree fell and the side yard foundation bed was redone, there were no tulips.  In early May 2011, the parrot tulip, the only bulb to survive since it's in the side yard rose garden, has bloomed.  It's now my only tulip and I suppose I shall have to plant new tulip bulbs this fall.

Last Updated: 03 Mar 2023

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