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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 2016)
SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 // 7 Plan and plant now for spring-lowering bulbs Registration open for Gifts By LEE REICH ASSOCIATED PRESS It’s nearly that time of year when gardeners think of spring — of planting bulbs that are going to bloom then. Bulbs are “pre-packaged” lowers, so a green thumb isn’t necessary to get those irst season’s blossoms. Still, a few tips for buying and planting bulbs can make for a better show next spring. Bigger is better The bigger the bulbs, the bigger next spring’s lowers. Bulbs are usually sold as small, medium or top size, the measurement taken around the circumference where the bulb is fattest. Which measurements go with which size depends on the kind of bulb. Small tulips are 10 to 11 centimeters around, medium ones 11 to 12 centimeters, and anything larger is top size. Naturally smaller bulbs include certain tulips, such as the charming waterlily tulip, as well as grape hya- cinth, crocus and snow drop. More is better Over time, with good care, smaller bulbs will grow into larger ones, whose show will match that of the ini- tially fatter bulbs. One way to compensate for smaller LEE REICH VIA AP Over time, spring lowering bulbs, especially narcissuses like the ones shown here, can multiply and become overcrowded, at which time they need to be dug up, separated and replanted. lowers would be to plant more of them, putting your money into buying more rather than fatter bulbs. More is better, for any kind of bulb. Forget about planting tulips in a single ile ready to march like soldiers down the edge of your front path. Instead, plan for big dollops of color, massing bulbs in circular groups or, for bolder visual effect from fewer bulbs, triangular groupings with an apex di- rected to your vantage point. Good conditions Even though this coming spring’s lowers are already packaged inside bulbs, the more sunlight the plants bask in, the better will be the show they put on in years to come. The spot where you plant bulbs doesn’t have to be bathed in sunlight all season — only until the bulbs’ leaves disappear. Those leaves disappear, for- tuitously, at about the same time that emerging leaves of deciduous trees inally knit together to create shade. Another consideration in siting spring bulbs is soil drainage; most abhor wet feet. The original home of tulips, narcissus, crocuses, and many other popular spring bulbs are the moun- tainsides of western Asia, on ground that is parched all summer. Holland is a good place to raise bulbs commer- cially because the long, cool, moist springs delay dorman- cy. In the long time before the bulbs’ leaves inally die back, the greenery has plenty of time to fuel the following season’s lower buds. What about fertilizer? The traditional recommendation is to put bone meal into the bottom of the planting hole. Actually, a bulb does not need fertilizer to lower well its irst season, only to lower well in subsequent seasons. What these bulbs really need is any balanced fertilizer — includ- ing compost — spread on the ground right after planting this fall or even in spring. Bone meal is not a particular- ly well-balanced fertilizer. Good growing conditions will get these bulbs multi- plying, with younger bulbs budding off the mother bulb. Overcrowded bulbs won’t lower well, so they’ll eventually need to be dug up; a good time is when the foliage is dying down. They can then be replanted with suficient elbow room. And unless your yard is free of deer, plant types of bulbs that deer don’t like, such as ornamental onions, glory-of-the-snow, winter aconite, fritillaria, snowdrop, hyacinth, snowlake, squill and narcissus. That Make a Diference ASTORIA — Registration is open for Gifts That Make a Difference, the lower Co- lumbia region’s only holiday gifts fair that showcases the region’s nonproits. The gifts fair will be held Dec. 10 in the Liberty The- ater’s McTavish Room. At Gifts That Make a Dif- ference, nonproits can dis- play information about their work, meet the public, sign up new volunteers, expand their mailing lists, solicit donations and network. The gifts making the dif- ference are donations made as holiday gifts honoring friends and family by donat- ing in their names to their s t n e E v OCT. 1 * 7 pm Doors Open @ 6:00pm Buffet @ 6:15pm Blues and R&B Review SEASIDE — Providence Seaside Hospital Foundation is currently seeking tree designers for this year’s Festival of Trees, scheduled to take place on Dec. 3 at the Seaside Civic and Conven- tion Center. Designing a tree for Festival of Trees is a great opportunity for businesses, organizations, families or individuals to support the community and have a lot of fun at the same time. Each designer decides the theme of their tree, then decorates it to be featured at the community open house and auctioned off at the gala. All proceeds support the Providence Seaside Hospi- tal and local programs and services. Designers can showcase their design talents, honor a loved one, or use this as a community service or team-building project for staff. For more information about designing a tree for this year’s festival, contact Veronica at the Providence Seaside Foundation ofice by emailing veronica.russell@ providence.org or calling 503-717-7604. SUBMITTED PHOTO Oct. 8 * 9 pm Bruce Thomas Smith and Friends Port of Call Bistro & Bar Produced by Jimmy James O RIGINAL T EXAS R OADHOUSE R OCK Tickets @ brownpapertickets.com $ 15 Presale 20 At the door $ 12 Buffet ticket $ Enter the silent auction for this 33-year old drawing! $ 1 per ticket goes to Filling Empty Bellies Astoria Event Center Designers wanted for Festival of Trees favorite local groups. Space ills quickly. Tables are provided in three sizes: small ($20), large ($30) and extra-large ($45). The fair is hosted by Lower Columbia Time- Bank, the Liberty Theater and United Way of Clatsop County. Registration will remain open until Nov. 10 or until all spaces are illed. Groups may register online at GiftsThatMakeA- Difference.org or by email at LCTimeBank@aol.com. For early registration by phone or general infor- mation about the fair, call 503-741-3050. Sept. 23 & 24 Come join us for the unoffi cial offi cial BrewFest Afterparty! September 25 * 8 pm Joshua Cook and the Key of Now Simmering rock ‘n’ roll in a hearty soul stew of psych, blues, and folksy wanderlust www.keyofnow.com Free BY JUSTIN GRAFTON STUDIOS Each tree at Providence Sea- side Foundation’s Festival of Trees fundraiser is decorated with a theme that matches the item being auctioned of during the evening gala. Port of Call Bistro & Bar 894 Commercial Street 503*325*4356
