Name: Tulip sp. aka tulips

Type of Plant Spring flowering bulb, usually planted in the fall.

Why I Love/Hate this plant: Tulips are the magic wands of spring, waving colorful flowers at the end of their stems, cheering us up and onward. I love them when they first poke up, when they are in flower, and when they grow large and floppy as they age.

A Word to the Wise: First of all, plant tulips as annuals. Some will come back for a year or two, but most usually disappear or don’t flower after the third year. Plant them anyway.

Don’t plant tulip bulbs too deeply. Put them about 3” down and cover with an inch or two of mulch after they have faded in late-spring for best success in returning the following year.

Secondly, sprinkle them early in the season with cayenne pepper to discourage squirrels, or spray with one of the egg/milk sprays to discourage rabbits and deer from biting them off. Use these animal repellents when the tulips just start to appear and weekly until they are gone.

If you forgot to plant tulip bulbs last fall, most garden centers have pots of plants you can put in the garden for instant spring happiness.

I love how tulips look when they are starting to go by…big flowers, flopping stems, and a more relaxed look make them even more appealing.

If you have a place that’s illuminated by the setting sun, plant red or yellow tulips there. They will glow in that back-lighting!