Red-Hot Tote + Timeless Flowers = Happy Valentine's Day!

        Of course Cupid's been a big fan of our bulbs for centuries. But did you know he also loves our snazzy red tote-bags? Put the two together and you'll make someone very happy this Valentine's Day.
        It's easy. At Cupid's Favorites you'll find all of our pink, red, and fragrant heirlooms, our totes, and -- easiest of all -- our dreamy gift-certificates.
        Be sure to give yourself a little love, too. It's not just your sweetie, Mom, and garden friends who deserve endless beauty and eternal spring. Happy Valentine's Day!

Ta-da! Variegated York and Lancaster Dahlia Has Finally Arrived

        Just in time for Valentine's Day, the mysterious red-and-white 'York and Lancaster' dahlia is now for sale for April delivery. We're sorry we made you wait, but we wanted to make sure we'd increased our stock to a sustainable level and got it safely through winter storage. And we had a devil of a time researching its history. The British collector we got our first tuber from told us it was rediscovered in the garden of a French chateau. Some say it dates to 1850, others 1915, and others . . . well, we're still researching.
        One thing for sure, it's cool. A few of its flowers are all red or all white but most are an unpredictable mix of both -- très intéressant. And it's rare. We have just 100 to share this spring, and you're the first to hear about them!

Got Too Many Plastic Pots? Try This!

        If your pile of empty plastic pots and cell-packs is getting dangerously high because you hate to send them to the landfill, here's an earth-friendly solution. Last fall our friends at Milwaukee's Boerner Botanical Gardens and UW-Extension hosted a Plastic Pot Recycling Weekend. They invited local gardeners to bring in their empty plastic pots, cell-packs, garden trays, hanging baskets, fertilizer and mulch bags, greenhouse poly film, irrigation drip tape, and landscape edging to be shredded on site by a company that makes plastic lumber for decking and outdoor furniture.
        With the help of 50 Master Gardener volunteers, the event netted a staggering 21.5 tons of plastic! Another weekend is already in the works, and we're hoping maybe you'll be inspired to help get one started in your neck of the woods. To learn more, email patrice.peltier@ces.uwex.edu or call 414-525-5638.

The Frugal Gardener: Save 30% on Our Bumper Crop of Canna indica

        Hummingbirds love the tiny, flame-like flowers of this wild, graceful "Canna of the Indies" -- and now you can add it to your garden for 30% less. Our stock from the British National Collection has multiplied so vigorously that we're slashing its price to just $6.50 this spring. Mother Nature says, "Enjoy!"

Daffodil Shows Start March 7, National Show in Chicago in April

        For a heaping, soul-satisfying helping of daffodil beauty and diversity, make plans to visit an American Daffodil Society show this spring. Forty-two shows, free and open to the public, are scheduled all across the country, starting with the Texas and Northern California shows March 7-8 and ending with the show in West Boylston, MA, May 3-4. For a complete listing, see the "Events and Show Schedule" at daffodilusa.org/events/show.html.
        Biggest and grandest of all is the National Show April 25-27 at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Over 1000 blooms will be in the competition, including -- as in most local shows -- a whole section devoted to Historic Pre-1940 Daffodils. Outside, thousands of daffodils will be blooming, including 50-100 each of eight different heirlooms we donated to the Garden last fall in celebration of the show. For more info, visit ads2009convention.org.

March 1, Wear a Daffodil (or Leek!) for St. David of Wales

        While researching daffodil history, we stumbled upon this interesting bit at Wikipedia.com:
        "Saint David's Day . . . is the feast day of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, and falls on March 1 each year. The date . . . was chosen in remembrance of the death of Saint David on that day in 589, and has been celebrated . . . since then. The date was declared a national day of celebration . . . in the 18th century.
        "On this day many Welsh people wear one or both of the national emblems of Wales on their lapel to celebrate: the daffodil (a generic Welsh symbol . . .) or the leek (Saint David's personal symbol). The association between leeks and daffodils is strengthened by the fact that they have similar names in Welsh, cenin (leek) and cenin Bedr (daffodil, literally "Peter's leek").
        "In south Wales males usually wear leeks while young girls wear daffodils; in the north the daffodil predominates."

American-Grown Surprise Lilies: Reserve Yours for Fall Now!

        Almost every week at the popular Dave's Garden website, more people search for our Lycoris squamigera than anything else we sell. So here's an inside tip for our newsletter readers: This fall, instead of our usual Dutch-grown bulbs, we'll be delivering bigger, fatter, American-grown bulbs of this lavender-pink, late-summer beauty. Maybe even better, if you order now, you'll get them at last fall's prices. But, shhhh, don't tell everyone. Our supplies are limited!

It's Still Freezing Here: Spring Shipping Starts April 1

        Spring has sprung in plenty of warm, happy places across the country, and many of you are sharing that thrill with us via email and photos. Thank you!
      But no matter how ready your garden is, we can't ship your spring-planted bulbs till temperatures here in Michigan stay reliably above freezing -- and right now we're still shoveling snow. To make sure your cold-sensitive treasures reach you safely, we have to wait till April to ship them. Mother Nature insists, and we hope you understand.

Did You Miss Our Last Newsletter? Read It Online!

        January's articles included frugal gardening a la Monet, Barbara Kingsolver on local food and heirloom "tranquils," December-blooming Minor Monarque, mourning Ed McRae, web-only rarities, and more. You can read all of our back-issues -- by date or by topic -- at oldhousegardens.com/NewsletterArchives.asp .

Share Our Gazette with a Friend!

        Please help "Save the Bulbs!" by forwarding our newsletter to a kindred spirit, garden, museum, or group. Or if a friend sent you this issue, click here to SUBSCRIBE!

Remember: We will NEVER share your email address with anyone!

To Guarantee That You Get Your Next Newsletter . . .

        Please add newsletter@oldhousegardens.com to your email address book or safe/approved list today.

To Unsubscribe

        We hope you find our Gazette helpful and fun, but if not simply email us at newsletter@oldhousegardens.com with Unsubscribe as the subject and we'll drop you from our list immediately.