Another fantastic mistake is pictured above. I’m writing this not only because I want to share the planting idea, but to promote horticultural notetaking and databases. Here’s the beautiful combination: We had these long parking lot beds which were totally revamped this year. Trees removed, soil worked by shovel and big tiller. New plants (tulips and poppies) installed.

Tulips and Poppies

To help it all look spiffy and colorful for the spring, we planted thousands of Tulipa clusiana, a tiny, yellow and red striped tulip. This little bulb perennializes and even seeds in the south.

Its 8-inch-tall flowers stand straight up, then open out like little solar panels. Flimsy, but erect stalks topped by whirling plates.

We also seed the new beds with poppies.

That worked. But, what even I didn’t expect was that the burgundy leafed Crinum Sangria which was in the beds before, which was mostly removed, which was tilled up with a tractor and run over, would come right back.

So among the sweet gold and red tiny flowers, eruptions of deep, burgundy, shiny leaves.

WAIT, IT GETS BETTER: A color and form echo. What is that? The tulips faded and the orange poppies came into flower. Same delicate, flat flowers standing up on stalks, same color, just as the tulips had been. Same amazing contrast with the burgundy leaves of the tough as nails crinum. To think, I used to not love this sub-tropical bulb.

I’ll surely use this planting again. What a great thing for a parking lot or a new bed.