Planting and Harvesting Tulips
The weather has been unseasonably warm these past few weeks (today, it’s 64 degrees!), so I’m taking advantage and getting some work done in the garden.
I planted tulips in my raised beds so I can dig them up in the spring and use them for cut flower arrangements. I learned a trick of adding crushed oyster shells (purchased from Brooks Feed and Farm Supply in downtown Brunswick, Maine) from my time working at Pretty Flowers. The shells act as a deterrent for rodents who might be tempted to dig them up. The crushed shells are also a visible indicator of where bulbs are planted, which is helpful in the spring when planning new plantings. I planted the Narcissus (Daffodils) along my garden beds since I don’t plan to dig them up. They will add a touch of color to the backyard in the early spring. I may end up cutting some of the flowers for arrangements, but I’ll be sure to condition them first. 
What I planted this year, left to right- Tulips: ‘Apricot Beauty’, ‘Salmon Pearl’, ‘Blue Spectacle’, ‘Sweetheart’, Narcissus ‘Eline’, Narcissus ‘Martha Stewart’, Narcissus ‘Cairngorm’ and Hyacinth ‘Woodstock’ 
The tulip bulbs will reach maturity between late April and May. I’ll carefully dig them up with the bulb attached. Refrigerating the tulips with the bulb makes them last until I’m ready to cut and hydrate them for flower arrangements. Once they’re cut, they can still last up to 2 weeks!