GLADS THAT MADE ME GLAD
Some years ago when the family was young and the children growing up. I stated, "that if it is not eatable it is not growable in my garden." Those were the days when I was farming, gardening and starting up a photo shop in Wilton.
Not that I had anything against flowers as such, it was just that everything takes time and I did not have that time.
Well now that our children have more or less flown from the nest. The demand for food to feed them has lessened, I have added flowers to my gardening experience.
A few years ago I was in the garden department of one of the stores in our area and they had a sale on a package of 25 Glad bulbs for a bit over a dollar. So why not? My Mother use to raise gladiolas, and I always thought they were such pretty flowers with their many variety of colors. So I bought this package of bulbs took them home and planted them along the northwest side of our house. Not only was I surprised at the variety of colors from that "cheapie" package of bulbs I was suprised with the length of the spikes and the size of the flowers
Well the next season I planted them in rows along side my tulips. It was a busy year and somehow I did not weed and till them as well as the year before and they showed it, smaller spikes and flowers also, they seemed to break over before the spikes where fully formed.
My wife, Thema in talking with a neighbor lady learned she had the same problem and some one had told her that soaking the bulbs overnight in a solution 2 tablespoons of regular Lysol in about a gallon of water would help prevent any diseases the plants might have. So last year I did that and again had big beautiful spikes and flowers.
Well this season "glads" are just beginning to bloom, the spikes are the tallest that I have ever had them reaching nearly five feet on some. The flowers are not quite as large but I think that is partly due to the very dry weather we had up until a few days ago and I think this very hot weather is causing them to bloom more rapidly.
But they are a beautiful flower, that in normal weather will give a week or more per spike of a new flower each day. They do take a bit of extra work as their height makes it necessary to stake them to prevent them from bending and breaking.
However, as I marvel at the delicacy and beauty of the Gladiola, I am also very much aware that without the lowly potato or other garden produce I would not have the ability to see and admire the beauty of these lovely Gladiola or any other flower. So in a real sense the vegetable garden still takes first place but it is also great to be able to add this little extra to my gardening hobby, even at this late period in my life.
Here are a few interesting WEB pages on Gladiolias. If you want go to my WEB page and cllck on them or load these URL"s in your browser.
The University of Nebraska WEB site is very detailed and interesting:
Planting, culture, care, insects, and disease are discussed in this NebGuide.
http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/Horticulture/g852.htm
They Specialize only in Gladiolus - 350 acres
http://www.gladaway.com/history.htm