The Disappointment of Spring Greenery Without Flowers Spring is supposed to bring the reward: crisp leaves unfurling, sturdy stems rising, and tulip color opening above the bed. Instead, some gardens produce a thick fan of broad green foliage with no flower at all. The leaves look healthy enough to promiseRead More

The Secret Chemistry Awakening Beneath the Frost A tulip bulb resting beneath winter soil can look entirely inactive. Its papery tunic is dry, the growing point is hidden, and nothing seems to happen until the first green shoot appears. Yet inside that bulb, a carefully timed sequence is under way.Read More

Why Hybrid Tulips Vanish and Botanical Species Endure Few spring disappointments are more familiar than a bed that looked magnificent in its first season and then produced only narrow green leaves the following year. Many large Dutch hybrid tulips are bred for dramatic color, long stems, enormous flowers, and dependableRead More