This bold, bright planting of tulips mades me think of how gardeners often paint with flowers. Just three varieties have been chosen for this colour palette in dark, mid and light tones for contrast.
The maroon tulips are tall, the orange ones are shorter, and the creamy yellow ones are shorter still, creating a colour block effect at the bottom. Above that is a radiant heart with the darker blooms seeming to float over the whole.
My sweetheart says that tulips are short-lived in his part of the world, but in Northern England, fussed over by Royal Horticultural Society gardeners, most of these will be back, year after year. Most likely they’re flowering about now in a bold new combination. For after all, there’s no right and wrong when it comes to mixing flowers, no matter what anyone tells you. Planting bulbs is all about trying things out, finding what pleases you and having a little fun in the process.
Even if the tulips had been one shot wonders, they still gave visitors to Harlow Carr good reason to smile as long as they lasted.
Susan Rushton 
aren’t these fabulous. Going to be another couple of weeks before our tulips are ready to be photographed
Really? Some of mine are already over!
We’ve had over a week of ground frosts every morning, everything has been set back
I can imagine. But you have lots to look forward to.
hope so 🙂
In meantime MrB muttering about how the windowsills are disappearing under courgette plants, tomatoes, sunflowers and numerous other seedlings!!
He’ll be changing his tune when you are harvesting them for his dinner 😊
Hee hee, that’s very true!!
Oh, my! That color combination just jumped out at me. I was especially drawn to the maroon tulips. And your sweetheart is right. Across the pond, tulips must be planted every year. Plus, critters like to eat the bulbs. Eventually, I gave up. But sure do enjoy seeing those beauties.
The maroon ones have a lovely sheen.
I think I’d have to bring a chair and just sit there and stare. That’s a lot of impact, and to be savored. I applaud madly your philosophy of gardening: no right or wrong way, experiment, have fun. This photo is like the exclamation point at the end of your philosophy. It’s like eye coffee!
Eye coffee made me wince at first reading but on reflection, I see your point!
We have a bulb company here called ‘Color Blends’ who specialize in creating eye-catching combos like these. Their catalog is drool-worthy! https://www.colorblends.com/spring-flowering-bulbs/tulips/
I’ve heard of them. I met some of their representatives some years ago.
Oh yes. I’m well overdue a visit to Harlow Carr.
It’s a really good time. If you go, don’t miss the newish area with the spring flowers. You go past the ice cream place and over to the other side of the stream, then follow the path between the old exhibition building and the toilets up the hill just ten or twenty yards or so and turn left.
That sounds one of those airy tales when there’s always just one more step to take …
A perfect mixup. 😁
A happy mingling.
Oranges and coppers and the dark purples or reds are my favourite combination.
Tulips certainly go all out, don’t they.
Wow
They’re one way to lift the spirits!
I love these – thanks for giving me some tulip joy. In my garden they don’t last long at all because deer get them when they about 3-4 inches above ground. They don’t even let them bloom before they eat them. I plant daffodils.
I am sorry about that. I am always excited to see wild deer here but am starting to understand that even in the woods they can do a lot of damage.
We just returned home and I have daffodils and 4 red tulips up close to the house. Whoopie.
Harlow Carr can usually produce something joyful, but for me you’ve nailed it with this colour combination 🙂 🙂
It’s certainly bold!
All lovely colours of tulips!
They are, and the colours all seem to have a depth to them.
A lovely bed well photographed
Thanks, Derrick.