$3 each, 3/$8, 5/$10, 10/$14
David
Burdick
Grower of
Daffodil Flowers and Bulbs
& More
Offering
Undiscovered Varieties Belonging in All Gardens
2009 Catalog
At the present time we are not accepting orders through this website. Please make your selections from this catalog and mail your order to Daffodils and More, PO Box 495, Dalton, MA 01227.
Click here for a printable order form
&
More
Camassia
Trollius
Colchicum
Anemone
Other Fall Shipped Bulbs and Rhizomes
& Even More
Notecards and Trowel
Return to Catalog Table of Contents
Camassias and Trollius
Relief for "Post-Daffodil Depression"
CAMASSIA - The current passion for native plants has thankfully resulted in increased awareness and use of our own Pacific Northwest's camas lilies. Although naturally found in rich, moist meadows, Camassias are without a doubt some of the most versatile bulbs for landscape use. Adaptable to sun or light shade, try them between shrubs, in the perennial border, massed in grass, or even in containers. If one wanted to try a bulb in heavier clay soils, this would be it. I have never had any "critter" problems with them, and every four-legged member of the food chain seems to cross our fields nightly! The flowering begins as the last poeticus narcissus are fading and "post-daffodil depression" begins setting in. We prescribe taking five to six weeks of Camassia bloom as part of a comprehensive wellness program. Bulbs of the species and cultivars we offer should be planted 4-6" deep and 6-8" apart in groups of three or more.
Camassia leichtlinii subsp. Suksdorfii
- Splendid native bulb with 36 inch spikes filled with starry violet blue
flowers that are produced just as the last daffodils are finishing. They thrive
anywhere, but especially love damp places. Deer do not feed on them, but the
first returning hummingbirds
do!
$3 each, 3/$ 8
Camassia
leichtlinii ‘semiplena’ -
The semi-double, creamy white variety of camas lily. Surprisingly, it
begins bloom one to two weeks after the violet blue form we offer does. Good cut
flower.
$3 each, 3/$8
|
Camassia cusickii
- A succession of pale, icy steel-blue flowers with yellow anthers on flower
stalks reaching 24-30”. An example of “fine design by accident” occurred when I
grew these in front of the taller dark blue-violet Camassias—the color of each
was dramatically intensified. C. cusickii makes large distinctive pointed
bulbs. $3 each, 3/$8, 5/$10, 10/$14 |
|
|
Camassia cusickii ‘Zwanenburg’
- Cultivar of similar size and habit as the species, selected for its flowers of
a few shades darker blue (with some lavender undertones). The bulbs produced are
of a smaller size than those of C. cusickii. $3 each, 3/$8, 5/$10, 10/$14 |
 |
TROLLIUS - The onslaught of the Trollius just as the last daffodils are fading keeps the field clothed in bright golds, oranges, and yellows for another month or more. Commonly called globeflowers, these buttercup relatives and florist Ranunculus look-alikes are rugged perennial plants native to moist mountain meadows (mostly Asian). Full sun and well-drained soils high in organic matter for moisture retention suit them best. As with most members of this plant family, a little added limestone helps too. Often you find Trollius on lists of plants for partial shade. This recommendation comes from the need for retained moisture, which the partially shaded positions help provide. Be aware that even though the plants will grow and flower in these situations, they will stretch and lean toward the bright light. Dry sites in any exposure yield unsatisfactory results. They are perfect mates both culturally and as design companions for the Camassias listed above.
We ship large flowering-size bare root divisions of Trollius in the Fall. Freshly dug plants will be dispatched during September and October, as are the majority of our bulbs. Inquiries regarding wholesale availabilities are welcomed.
| Alabaster - One of the rare varieties with creamy white
flowers, plus has a light fragrance. Very much like Cheddar in color and size
(18-20” foliage, flower stalks 28-32”), both beginning to bloom as the first
Trollius are finishing (Late May-Early June). Minor and possibly imagined
differences are that Alabaster opens a few days earlier and that Cheddar shows a
little more green in the outer sepals. $15 each |
 |
Be Mine - For years I was convinced this was exactly the same
plant as ‘Orange Crest’. The ‘Be Mine’ cultivar is not officially registered,
and the only firm that ever supplied it described it as a plant found in a batch
of others. Their name for the plant seemed wishful thinking on that company’s
part (Be Ours might have been more appropriate), and I notice they no longer
offer it. However, two years ago I noticed that the patch of ‘Be Mine’ was
throwing some secondary blooms later in the year, and the patch of ‘Orange
Crest’ was not. I am now confused and will continue to observe and keep the lots
separated. Please read the description of ‘Orange Crest’ below for an idea of
what this one also looks like.
$ 8 each
| Canary Bird - Vigorous and early blooming with loads of golden
orange spheres (1 ½-2” wide). Very much like ‘Fire Globe’, just a bit taller
when in flower (24-28” foliage, 36-40” flowering stems). $ 6 each |
 |
Cheddar - Creamy white flowers with a light fragrance. Very
much like Alabaster in color and size (18-20” foliage, flower stalks 28-32”),
both beginning to bloom as the first Trollius are finishing (Late May-Early
June). Minor and possibly imagined differences are that Alabaster opens a few
days earlier and that Cheddar shows a little more green in the outer sepals.
Some have said that Cheddar is the more aggressive grower of the two, but I
remain unconvinced of that.
$15 each
T. chinensis - The easiest Trollius from seed so consequently
the one most often seen for sale, usually under the name Golden Queen. This is
the tallest (up to 4’) and latest of the globeflowers to bloom (June-July).
Large 3-4” wide flowers are actually not globe-shaped at all; its showy golden
orange sepals open flat unveiling the center circle of long, thin eyelash-like
orange petals. I’m now of the opinion that this species needs frequent dividing
for continued success (every 2-3 years), otherwise it seems to dwindle away.
Divisions quickly bulk back up into stout plants.Beautiful with Siberian and
Japanese Iris.
$ 6 each
Commander in Chief - Of the hybrids trialed so far, this is the
first to bloom for us, opening even before the cultivar ‘Earliest of All’.
Golden yellow flowers top 30-34” flower stalks that tend to be a bit lax and
splay outward.
$ 6 each
| Empire Day - My personal favorite of the lemon yellow
globeflowers. The plant emerges from the ground with delightful yet somewhat
sinister black-red colored foliage. Its 2” cupped blooms are supported by sturdy
18-24” stems. These stalks are also flushed with some color, an attractive black
tone towards their tips. $10 each |
 |
T. europaeus - The species that contributes the lemon yellow
flower color to the hybrids. Another 6” or more taller than the yellow cultivar
we offer (Empire Day), with lots of slightly smaller flowers.
$ 6 each
Fire Globe - Similar to Canary Bird, though maybe 4-6” shorter
when in bloom, and usually starting a few days later. The same golden orange 2”
spheres.
$ 6 each
| Golden Monarch - Distinct and most useful because of its bloom
period, peaking during the short gap between the finish of the early hybrids and
the start of the creamy white varieties. Wider (2 ½-3”) flowers of a soft golden
orange that are more open at the top, allowing one to peek inside its globes.
30” or so high floral stalks. $10 each |
 |
| Orange Crest - Most noticeable is the two-tone nature of the
flower color, with each orange-gold globe open at its “north pole” revealing
even darker orange petals inside. Even before blooming this variety attracts
attention, when flames of red overlay the gilded buds. Dark scarlet shades the
emerging leaves. A sturdy 30-36” plant, with minimal elongation of the flowering
stems above the foliage mass. This is a wonderful Trollius, possessing so many
of the desired attributes we look for during trialing. $ 8 each |
 |
| Orange Princess - I have to admit I have seen at least three
different plants being offered under this name. The one we grow has pale orange
globes on elongated 36” flowering stems; the blooms seem to float high above the
bulk of the 24” main body of foliage. Ideal for the wet wildflower meadow! $ 6 each |
 |
| Prichard’s Giant - The tallest, darkest orange, and longest
blooming of the early flowering hybrids. Beginning shortly after
‘Commander-in-Chief’, its healthy production of secondary buds on the 36-40”
floral shoots keeps the color coming through to the start of the creamy white
varieties of Trollius. Large 3” wide globes; the lower petals (actually sepals)
are very attractively fringed. $10 each |
 |
Dipping
our toes in new water
Colchicum
COLCHICUM - Researching new plants that I may want to offer starts with studying the written word of others in articles or catalogs, but invariably has to include a field trial where I buy as many varieties as I can find (or afford) and grow them on. I tried most of the big ball-shaped alliums and quickly decided they were not for me. The fall blooming colchicums have been a quite different story. Flower buds magically mushroom out of the ground in September and October from oddly shaped corms (there is an extension at the bottom part of the bulb called the “foot”, from which the first roots and flower tubes emerge) and mature as clusters of 4”-8” stemmed wine goblets in every shade between rosy-pink and purple (there are some white forms too). Their wide, green, Hosta-like leaves do not appear until the following spring, eventually maturing and dying down in mid-July. First year planting will yield floral rewards in just a few weeks, provided that you can get the bulbs early enough. Late August planting is recommended, the first weeks of September at the latest. Making things somewhat more difficult is the fact that the bulbs begin pushing buds regardless of whether they’re planted or not--if they are blooming outside, they are also probably blooming anemically in their display boxes at the local garden centers. Getting there too late will make you have to wait a full year before seeing any flowers from your efforts. We want you to have immediate success, so will only accept mail orders for Colchicums until September 7th. After that, a few stocks get potted for local sales, but the rest is replanted in our fields so we can observe the flowers too (necessary for quality control).
Colchicums require a well-drained soil and prefer sunny locations. Because it is essential to leave the foliage to the bitter end, incorporating them into herbaceous borders can be difficult, as the mass of leaves from established clumps can smother neighboring plants when it does its flop near the end of its growth cycle (though we have successfully used them next to some of the classic late season perennials and annuals like Asters, Japanese anemones, hardy mums, ornamental kale, etc.). The sunny spots at the bases of trees and in between shrubs display them well, and they will perform happily here provided that competition with surface roots is not an issue. As with most bulbs, if it’s hard to dig the hole where you’re trying to put them, it’s probably not a good place for them to grow. Plant the corms 6”-8” deep and 6”-8” apart.
| Colchicum ‘Autumn Herald’ - Groups of tulip-like cupped flowers
are borne close to the soil surface on short greenish tubes. The petals are a
bright pinkish-purple with just a touch of white creeping up from the base. Mid Sept-Late Sept. $6 each |
 |
Colchicum
autumnale ‘Nancy Lindsay’
- While the individual flowers of the Colchicum autumnale types may be smaller
than most (2” wide), the numbers produced per corm make a clump just as showy as
those of larger flowered ones. Most noticeable about ‘Nancy Lindsay’ is that the
tube of the flower is the same purple as the petals--in most of the species and
hybrids, the stems of their floral chalices are white or greenish white.
Mid to late Sept.
$6 each
| Colchicum ‘Disraeli’ - Bright, rich rosy-purple tulip shaped
flowers with intense tessellation. The anthers are also purple. Clusters of
bloom are produced close to the ground and remain fresh looking for three weeks
or more. Mid Sept-early Oct. $8 each |
 |
| Colchicum ‘Giant’ - A large flower atop a very long tube. The
violet color is quite subdued and might even be called bluish. The petals are
marked (tessellated) and have a large white eye; the anthers and style are
purple. Early to mid Oct. $6 each |
 |
|
Colchicum
‘Lilac Wonder’
- The variety most often available at the local garden center, and its healthy
floral production and plant vigor keeps it popular. A succession of true lilac
colored blooms is produced, the earliest flowers eventually tumbling over to
make way for those that follow. Not as tulip-shaped as others because its petals
are separated from each other instead of overlapping. Mid to late Sept. $6 each |
 |
|
Colchicum
‘Poseidon’
- This hybrid always seems to be the first Colchicum flowering for us, certainly
by the second week of September and sometimes even earlier. Plentiful large
cup-shaped blooms (3”-4” wide) flower low to the ground. It is a solid deep
lilac color with bright yellow anthers and a floral tube that goes purple with
age. Vigorous grower and a favorite. $10 each |
 |
Colchicum ‘Rosy Dawn’
- The majority of our Colchicum stock originally came from Russell Stafford, and
he thinks that this hybrid may not be the true ‘Rosy Dawn’. Still, the flowers
are large and plentiful; white on the lower half of the petal and a rosy purple
the rest of the way.
Late Sept-mid Oct.
$7 each
|
Colchicum
speciosum
- An aspect of some Colchicums that can be quite appealing is the presence on
the flowers of a checkering pattern of darker color, called tessellation. The
true C. speciosum should not show any, but the bulbs that are being sold as such
in the trade (including ours) have strong markings both on the inside and
outside of the petals, indicating it is probably some sort of hybrid. The
overall color of the large (3”-4” wide) goblet shaped flowers is a
lavender-purple with some slightly bluish undertones. Also one of the taller
Colchicum blooms (7”). Mid Sept-early Oct. $6 each |
 |
Colchicum speciosum ‘Ordu’ - A selection of the true species
from Turkey, this floriferous and vigorous Colchicum has flowers with petals
that are separate from each other like those of ‘Lilac Wonder’, but are of a
brighter violet color with lots of white at the base.
Mid Sept-early Oct.
$7 each
| Colchicum TBD - TBD stands for “to be determined”. The stock of
this vigorous clone was given to me by Joe Strauch without a name. He said it
was a very common offering through catalogs supplying Dutch bulbs, but couldn’t
remember which one it was. I’m still investigating, and buy a few new varieties
each year hoping one will someday match. In the meanwhile, we want to get
selling this wonderful garden plant. The plentiful tulip shaped blooms are
bright rosy-pink with a generous white eye. Late Sept-early Oct. $6 each |
 |
ANEMONE NEMEROSA - Is there yet another thing I need to collect? I bought my first varieties of the European woodland anemones years ago when installing a “purple” shade garden for my landlady. I was quite surprised to receive what looked like little twigs packaged in peat, and per instructions planted the rhizomes horizontally 1”-2” deep in bright shade in a soil with lots of incorporated organic matter (leaf mold is best). The first spring there was very little bloom (a trait of most all the varieties--this is a plant you have to be patient with) but the 6” high divided foliage was quite attractive, emerging with a sinister purplish cast and eventually turning a deep green. By the third year though, a floriferous spreading mat of delicate windflowers had been created, which never interfered with but only enhanced the look of the neighboring plants. I started wondering about the other clones available, and saw whites, pinks, blues, purples, yellows, and even green varieties out there for sale. Then I met a couple from Canada who said they had over 200 in their collection, and realized I was on the verge of going wacky over yet another plant. It’s been years since I’ve purchased my last varieties, but have continued to propagate and grow on my two favorites.
Anemone nemerosa ‘Allenii’ - Many of the A. nemerosa cultivars have flowers with coloration that differs on the inside of the petals and the outside (termed the reverse). The showy inside of ‘Allenii’ is a bright lavender-blue that contrasts perfectly with the yellow stamens, while the buds and reverse side of the blooms are a violet-purple with overlays of gray. 1” wide flowers open on fair weather days to face the wind atop 6”plants during the first three weeks of May. 3/$12
Anemone nemerosa ‘Mart’s Blue’ - Purchased originally from Latvian grower Janis Ruksans, whose friend discovered this form in Estonia. It has the truest blue color and longest lasting foliage (into August, where the others disappear in July) of any variety I have seen. Both the flower (3/4” wide) and plant (4” high) are on the dwarf side; the rhizomes are smaller too. Begins blooming a week to ten days after ‘Allenii’ starts. Sold Out
Other fall shipped Bulbs and Rhizomes
Muscari botryoides - The true “grape hyacinth”, which seems so
hard to come by, but grows so well for us. I have no explanation for why the
white form ‘alba’ seems readily available, while this grape scented and grape
colored original remains scarce. A much superior plant for harsh climate
gardening than the ubiquitous Muscari armeniacum and its selections! My problem
with that species is the fall production of its grass like foliage, which by the
end of our winters looks tattered and burned. This sorry mess is what the bloom
spikes emerge from in late May. M. botryoides waits until spring to produces its
wider deep green leaves; these form the perfect backdrop for the 6-8 inch stalk
that carries the clusters of spherical fragrant flowers which cheerfully bridge
the season between late daffodils and early tulips. Best planted in a sunny
well-drained location where they can be allowed to seed freely and form a
carpet. Plant loads of this wonderful, wonderful bulb.
5 bulbs/$8
| Sanguinaria canadensis ‘Flore Pleno’ - The majestic double-flowered
bloodroot. Granted, this is a truly ephemeral flower, but when in bloom it is
without a doubt the star of the garden and the envy of everyone who sees it.
Landlocked water lilies of the purest white emerge from within beautifully
wrapped gray-green leaves for a week or more of pure rapture. All forms of this
northeast native are said to grow best in shade or partial shade in gravelly,
moist ground that is high in organic matter, yet we find this plant amenable to
even quite sunny situations if the soil is well prepared and well mulched too.
The rhizome should be planted horizontally and just below the soil surface. We offer two flowering sized rootstocks, 2-eye $15, and 3-eye or more $18. |
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* The “& More” part of our name refers to the many other interesting plants we are evaluating and growing for sale. Besides the previously mentioned Trollius and Camassia these include hardy and tropical ferns, bromeliads of all kinds and sizes, some of the new New Zealand delphinium strains, plus many biennials including lots of foxgloves. At this time not all of what we grow are available as mail order items. The best methods for discovering our other plant selections is to come see us at one of the many enjoyable horticultural events we regularly attend as vendors.
Events we are scheduled for
June 19th,
2009 (Friday) - The North Hill Symposium, Mt. Snow Conference Center, West
Dover, VT
Wayne Winterrowd and Joe Eck’s annual garden symposium. Invited vendors offer
rare plants, garden ornaments, and garden books. Registration required, Box 178,
Readsboro VT 05350
July 18, 2009 (Saturday) -
Tranquil Lake Open House & Summer Garden Festival,
Tranquil Lake Nursery, Rehoboth, MA
The 18th annual open house where visitors may wander among the perennials,
display gardens and 10 acres of daylily fields during the peak season of
bloom. To celebrate the occasion the nursery offers free lectures and
demonstrations and a diverse assortment of garden activities and garden
vendors all day long from 10 am to 4 pm.
David will be speaking on the topic of Tropical Extravaganza - Add Some
Bromeliads to Brighten the Summer Garden.
Wilcox Stainless Steel 202S 14” Trowel
Our favorite planting tool!
Indestructible. The best trowel there is for all your garden needs. Perfectly
balanced.
Endorsed mightily by Kate Reade of Carncairn Daffodils, N.
Ireland.
$18.00 Postpaid
Note cards
I remain continually amazed by those who can look, see, and interpret what we all seem to be seeing, and then perfectly portray it with a series of pen strokes. We are proud to be able to offer the first set of daffodil note cards penned by artist Rebecca Brown of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Rebecca produces additional sets of cards with differing themes-“Historic Gettysburg Battlefield Homes” is just one example. Contact us or the artist directly (717-334-2304) for details.
Daffodil note cards - Six note cards, two of each design $5.50 postpaid