Saturday 23 November 2013

Can Bulbs Swim

Remember when I sent the AMP (absent minded professor) to investigate the drainage at the farm? He came back and said it was good. Well, sort of, as it turns out. I'm a farmer's daughter, drainage to me includes the growing areas. Apparently not for everybody.

We started to dig holes for the hundreds of bulbs I purchased out of a desperate need to add flowers to the property. The spade had barely broken the surface when it hit rocks.

The task rapidly evolved into sieving and wheelbarrows of rocks dumped out back and trips into town to get soil. A few holes were dug but darkness and fatigue were upon us so we retreated. The morning dawned bright with bulb planting enthusiasm. Wait a minute! The holes are full of WATER! The water table is really high here, said AMP. No kidding. I modified the design plan based on higher ground. Test holes were dug and left. No water. If there had been I dread to think how I would have responded. Best not to dwell on it.

Like most well laid plans it took much longer and some sterling work by the AMP but the bulbs are in and fingers are crossed.

Which brings me to my book recommendation for Holleygarden's book review meme.


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Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach is a work of fiction set in the time of Tulipmania, an actual event in Dutch history. Most of you probably know of the buying frenzy and ultimate crash of the bulb market shortly after the introduction of tulips into the Netherlands.

The discontented Sophia manipulates her complacent and conceited husband, her beleaguered maid and her naive lover in a plan whose success or failure is tied to the doomed economic bubble. The plan is outrageous, but not unbelievable, and I was hooked until the end which I am glad to say did not disappoint.

The author recreates the 17th century setting convincingly. The circumstances coming into play at a certain point in history were revealing and fascinating. This was the Dutch golden age and the layers of art, trade, tradition, exploration and religion kept me absorbed. My understanding of the times and the Tulipmania episode have been enriched by this book. I would recommend it for anyone with an interest in bulbs, history or the human condition.

Tulipmania: Money, Honor, and Knowledge in the Dutch Golden Age by Anne Goldgar is a factual account.

21 comments:

  1. What an intriguing book! I love history, and have always been confounded by the tulip mania. I would love this book, I think! It's going on my must-buy list! Thanks so much for joining in!

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    1. The reviews on your meme this month could have been written exclusively for me. I will be getting the Meadow Garden and 100 Easy To Grow Native Plants. Such a great resource.

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  2. This book sounds fascinating!!! Anything combining history, garden and the human condition!!! And my fingers are crossed for you with your bulbs!!! Drainage is a bit of an issue in my back garden and we are actually considering dry wells for several central locations. All the best and thank you so much for this great read!!!

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    1. I'm so pleased you mentioned dry wells. My brain was still in shock and not thinking of solutions. There is hope after all.

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  3. I have been reading The Tulip by Anna Pavord and had planned to review it for this month's book review, but have not finished it yet. It's a BIG book but perhaps by Dec I will have a review ready. Tulip Fever will be the perfect follow up book. I look forward to reading it. Thank you for a great review!

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    1. I will be very interested to see what you think of The Tulip. No wonder it is big, the tulip is a weighty subject.

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  4. Drainage is so important, I know all about it in our wet country, living on a place which is meters below sea level. But your tulips are in, congratulations. The book Tulip Fever is a great novel which I too can recommend to everyone who is interested in the history of tulips.

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    1. If you can garden below sea level I need to buck up and get on with it. I can see some ditch digging in my future.

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  5. Interesting. I have bulbs to plant too. Thankfully living at the top of a hill, drainage isn't an issue. But getting them in the ground is. I must get it done this weekend. Have a great Thanksgiving.

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    1. We were told all was good if we got them in before Christmas so you should be O.K.

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  6. This books sounds intriguing...I have a high water table too!

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    1. I expect the next year will be a steep learning curve for us. I hardly dare think about it.

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  7. Susan- I'm always up for an interesting read-- I will check this one out!
    Happy holidays to you and your family--
    Love
    Vicki

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    1. Winter is my reading time. Warmest wishes to you Vicki.

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  8. Well done for getting your bulbs in. Tulip planting is back breaking anyway, even if the holes don't fill up with water. We are always told to plant them much deeper than I can be bothered to plant them. So even when I have got mine all planted I come in feeling guilty. They always come up all right though.
    Chloris

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    1. The AMP will be delighted you recognize his hard work. In the past I've been a little more relaxed about planting my bulbs but the AMP likes to be precise. In most cases I end up being grateful for this.

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    2. Well done getting the bulbs in; tulips don't like summer wet so they will be much better higher in your garden. I enjoyed you post about Mary Robinson too. Thanks for the book recommendation, jsut the kind of book I like.

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  9. What a fantastic book for the gardener. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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    1. I'm always looking for good fiction with a gardening theme.

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  10. Hi Susan. Well done not giving up on the bulb planting--you will be rewarded in spring! And the novel sounds like the perfect gift for a gardening friend so thanks for that too. Happy bright wonderful holidays to you! L

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