It's about that time of year; the time of year when you kick yourself for not planting more tulips. Unless you've surrendered to the deer or live somewhere perpetually warm, you've probably got a clump or two of tulips. Their bright, cherry colors bridge the gap between daffodils and a fully awakened garden. They do get eaten on occasion and they have an annoying habit of disappearing after a year or two, but how much effort does it take to pop a few more in the ground, in the fall?

I was surprised to see that garden centers are now selling sprouted spring bulbs for transplanting. I guess they anticipate our regrets for not planting our own last fall. Of course, there are plenty of cut tulips and potted tulip plants available, if you just want to enjoy them for the season. I always like to pick up a bunch of red tulips, as soon as they're out in the spring. I only learned recently that tulips continue to grow after they are cut. That's why they twist and bend in the vase.

My favorite tulip planting tip from a reader was to plant your tulips in your fenced vegetable garden. The deer can't reach them, but you can enjoy them as you're getting your vegetable garden going or you can cut them and bring them indoors. Here are more tips for enjoying your tulips and caring for them once they're up.

• Growing Tulips
• Video - Tulips in Pots
• Feeding Bulbs
• Tulips as Cut Flowers
• Are Tulips Perennial?
• Spring Bulb FAQ

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A garden designer once told me that good garden design was a lot like pornography: You can't define it, but you know it when you see it. Certainly good garden design is subjective. My tastes seem to change daily, so my garden's design is constantly evolving. I do favor a certain sense of order, but my plants usually have their own way, despite my best efforts.

I was at a garden talk recently and the speaker was a garden designer who specializes in naturalistic garden design. He feels that a successful garden design is one where you don't even realize the space has been designed. I'm not sure that's ever going to be my aesthetic. I like natural areas, but I love billowing boarders and flowering hedges. David Beaulieu has an interesting piece on the evolution of garden design, from geometric order to cottage gardens, sweeping lawns and minimalism. Do you think you're garden aesthetic can be categorized, or do you find yourself constantly experimenting.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Who knew winter could be so fascinating in the garden? I still can't wait for it to be over, but I've gained a greater appreciation for winter more after seeing the photos submitted in this first garden photo contest of the year. Thanks for trudging out in the snow to share your garden highlights with us. I can't wait to see what you photograph this summer.

Here are the winners of the Jan/Feb 2010 Garden Photography Challenge - Winter Interest. Congratulations! The photo here was submitted by Rebecca Huss (Rebeckia), who took 1st Place with her Leucojum vernum var. carpathicum or Snowflake.

Thanks, everyone, for posting such great shots. Don't forget to get your photos in for the next challenge - Spring Bulbs. We sure could use some signs of spring.

Photo: Rebeca Huss

Landacre wrote in with an interesting problem. He husband planted potatoes, but "...all he got was a green bush and the same potato attached at the bottom." I've had years when my potoatoes weren't very large, but I've always gotten a few from each plant. And since growing anything underground for the entire season is a leap of faith, it's got to be very disappointing to pull up nothing.

Poor potato production is usually caused by one of two things:

1. The temperature stayed too warm. Potatoes like to cool off in the evenings. Keep piling on the soil, as the plant grows, or at least give it a good 4" of mulch.
   
   
   

2. Too much nitrogen, too little phosphorous. We always talk about wanting our plants to develop a good root system, but this is one time when it really matters. Choose a fertilzier with a low 1st number (nitrogen) and a high 2nd number (phosphorous)

Potatoes also need a lot of water, especially while they're in flower. But since the tops of the plants grew well, water probably wasn't the problem. Have any of you experienced this and do you have any advice to share with Landacre?

• Growing Potatoes
• Landacre's Question

Photo: © Marie Iannotti