Bulbs key to glorious spring display

If there is one certainty about Utah's spring weather, it is that it will change.

Like many of you, I have watched the flowers in my garden this spring. The daffodils came out starting in early March. Just as their golden heads were at their most glorious, they were hit with snow, which soon melted, then came back, then melted again.

On one snowy morning my daffodils were flat on the ground. By that afternoon the snow and ice had melted, and they again raised their heads to the sky. I'm not certain how many times this cycle has been repeated over the past few weeks, but they have taken a beating and still look great. In fact, the cool weather has kept them blooming longer.

Since bulbs are part of a glorious spring garden, I thought I would use this column to answer some of the questions I have received on the KSL Radio "Greenhouse Show," which airs Saturdays from 8 to 11 a.m. on AM 1160.

Question: What should I do when my bulbs come up when it is still cold and snowy?

Answer: Nothing! During this year's early warm spell, my early bulbs emerged and bloomed. Now, in spite of snow and some very cold nights, they are still blooming and are showing no problems from the cold, snowy weather.

Question: I planted lots of bulbs last fall, and the daffodils came up and bloomed well, but I cannot see any sign of any tulips. What is the problem?

Answer: Look for creatures that visit your garden. Daffodil bulbs are poisonous, so most animals leave them alone.

Tulips, on the other hand, are on the menu as appetizer, main course and dessert for mice, gophers, squirrels and deer. Any or all of these animals may be eating the tulips before they start to grow. Deer leave behind footprints, but the others are harder to detect.

There are many different myths as to what will keep creatures away: Soaps, predator urine, human hair, repellents and many other remedies seem to work temporarily, but they have to be renewed after rain or snowstorms.

The only foolproof way of keeping the creatures out is to plant the bulbs inside cages made from chicken wire. Cages will keep the critters from eating the bulbs, but they don't stop deer from nipping off the flowers and leaves. Tall fences work best for that.

Question: I planted only red tulips, but after several years all I have left are small yellow or tan flowers. What happened to all the red flowers?

Answer: In theory, as the bulbs divide, they should produce only red flowers — or whatever color the parent bulb was. But that's only in theory.