A new iMac and some great bulb combinations

What an idiot. I misdated yesterday’s column?and did I hear about it. Thank you to people who pay attention. Also lack of commas.? I’m learning, I’m learning.? As I am with the new computer which, of course, wasn’t as easy to deal with as everyone in the Future Shop or the Mac computer stores said.? Nope, moving stuff from a PC to a Mac requires more equipment, more software and more time with a techie.? I’ve been really lucky finding a calm, intelligent person in Brian.? The iMac sits on my dining room table like a piece of sculpture though untouched by human hands.

This week was fraught with wild life.? Fifty expensive autumn crocus (Colchicum ‘Alba’) were planted?fairly deeply and should be up by now or, at the very least, showing their little snouts.? Every squirrel in the ‘hood was alerted that here?be food. Every single bulb gone.? No amount of screaming and yelling kept them away. I sprinkled everything in the cupboard (chili powder, curry powder)? around, put boards over?the areas, nothing worked.? The cheeky devils?moved off a few feet?and downed them right in front of me.? I really thought something coming up this fast would not be so attractive to them or I wouldn’t haven’t bothered.

When it comes to all the rest of my bulbs:? chicken wire and leaves.? And if you’ve got squirrel solutions please post them here and share it with the rest of us.? They are really aggressive this year. About the worst they’ve ever been, but that may be because I hate thinking about them.

I’ll tell you what I’m going to plant when I get closer to the date. Meantime, I have some bulbs for sale if anyone is interested.? I worked out great combinations and here they are:

The naturalizers in a symphony of blue and white:?? Scilla ?Spring Beauty? 45 $35; Muscari armeniacum?100 bl $16
Muscari ?Bellevalia pycnantha’?45 bl $15; M. Latfiolium?50 wh $9; Hermodactylus tuberosa 130 bl $24
SubTotal $99; GST/PST 13.86; Total $ 112.86

These should be planted like bouquets.? Tulipa ?Spring green??50/ wh $60?? (this is one of the few tulips which is perennial); Narcissus ?tete at tete?? 50 yellow $24; Allium ?Purple Sensation? 30 $30
sub total $114; gst/pst 15.96?? Total $129.96

Anyone interested can pick them up at my place and pay me cash.? I work out these combinations very carefully and this year’s foray into retail was a black hole for money and time.? It’s not something I’ll ever do again.? I’m going to stick to writing about gardening and designing plantings.

And I’m going to think very carefully how I’ll be placing my bulbs in this crowded garden (that’s it on the top of the page).

Next week, Anna, the designer here promises to come over and show me how to download pictures. Meantime I take more every day.? You should be doing so too.? You won’t remember this glorious autumn in a few weeks.

yours Marjorie