planting tulips: old ways meet new west coast trends
Every fall, as the air turns crisp here on the West Coast, I’m reminded of my grandmother’s garden—tulips lined up like soldiers, each with its own patch of earth. Back then, spacing was sacred. Now, my neighbors plant tulip bulbs as close as eggs in a carton, chasing bold spring bouquets.
I can’t help but wonder: are we losing something by crowding them together? My family believed each tulip needed room to breathe, to show off its colors. But today’s gardeners want instant impact, a riot of blooms for cut-flower bouquets come spring. Is this progress, or just impatience?
Our mild, rainy winters make this region perfect for tulips, but the community is split. Some say tight planting is wasteful, risking disease and weak stems. Others argue it’s efficient, making the most of small city plots. I’ve seen both—lush carpets of color, and beds where bulbs rot from too much closeness.
Do we honor tradition, or embrace the new? Every year, I feel the tug between my grandmother’s careful hands and the urge to try something daring. Maybe that’s what gardening is all about: finding your own balance between the old and the new, and letting the seasons decide who’s right.
#tulipseason #gardeningdebate #westcoastgardens #Gardening
