Shipping Is in Full Swing -- And You Can Still Order!

        Today is Day 9 of spring shipping. Woo-hoo! Orders to warmer areas have been flying out the door, and by the end of the month we'll have every order shipped.
        Despite record sales (thanks!), we still have plenty of great bulbs for you to plant this spring for summer beauty and fun.
        Can't decide? Try our fabulous "Intro to Heirlooms" or other samplers. Or check out our dahlias for bouquets, fragrant Aztec tuberoses, small-flowered glads, hummingbird-magnet cannas, and potted St. Joseph's amaryllis at our lowest price ever!

Customer Raves: Another Glad-Hater Converted by Our Heirlooms

        Last summer, Kerry Hoffman of Clara's Meadow Flower & Herb Farm in Watsontown, Pennsylvania, wrote us in excitement:
        "Just wanted to tell you how absolutely GORGEOUS the glads are that I planted this spring. I'm a cut-flower market grower, and I stayed away from gladiolus because they were just too big for my bouquets and, truthfully, rather gaudy looking to me. But your heirloom varieties are stunning! They're an absolute hit with my customers, too. 'Atom' was the first to bloom last week, and everyone wanted to know its name. I love you guys. I will buy from you faithfully forever and ever and ever."

Hyacinth History Now Online

        Once the world's most popular bulb, hyacinths have been cherished in gardens since the days of Greece and Rome. Very few people know anything of their history, though, so we recently posted a terrific short history of hyacinths at our website. We bet you'll find it fascinating!

Two Ugly Little Buggers: Daffodil Bulb Fly and Gladiolus Thrips

        Deer-proof and rodent-proof, daffodils have only one pest that troubles them, the elusive daffodil bulb fly. And late spring is when it shows up in the garden. To learn more, visit our new web-page at oldhousegardens.com/DaffodilFly.asp .
        Thrips can be just as destructive. These almost invisible insects suck the life out of glads. To learn about their warning signs and how to protect your glads, check out our new web-page at oldhousegardens.com/thrips.asp .

Looking Ahead to Mother's Day, May 11

        If your mom loves flowers, we'd be glad to help. Send her some of our great spring-planted bulbs? Or a flowery Old House Gardens T-shirt? Or a gift certificate so she can choose exactly what she wants, anytime? We've even got a whole page at our website devoted to gift-giving. And we love to make moms happy!

DaffSeek.org Offers Thousands of Photos, Wants Yours

        DaffSeek.org is a great place to see and learn about thousands of daffodils. Sponsored by the American Daffodil Society, this simple website includes some 18,000 varieties that visitors can search by name, type, date, color, bloom season, and other criteria. Enter "1914," for example, and you'll get a list of 54 introduced that year, with photos of 12 including the charming 'Daphne' which we'll be offering in our new catalog.
        When the folks at DaffSeek asked to use 50 of our photos, we were happy to oblige. You can help, too, by sending clear, close-up photos to site-master Nancy Tackett at nancyt@netvista.net. She asks that you please:
        1. Take more than one photo of the same flower but from different angles such as front, side, etc.
        2. Send JPG files only, and in the original or highest possible resolution.
        3. For the filename, use the name of the daffodil as it appears in DaffSeek -- for example Grand Primo.jpg.
        4. If you send multiple photos of one variety, put a comma and ver# after the name -- for example Sir Watkin, ver2.jpg .
        170 photographers from fifteen countries have already contributed photos to DaffSeek. Yours could be there, too, enjoyed and appreciated by daffodil enthusiasts around the world!

Read Scott's "Savoring Dahlias" Article in Old-House Journal

        The June issue of Old-House Journal is hitting newsstands right now, and starting on page 24 you'll find Scott spreading the good word about heirloom dahlias. His article includes a list of eight favorites you can plant this spring "to enjoy 200 years of dahlia history in your own back yard." But only if you move fast!

Meet Us at Matthaei's Spring Sale and the A2 Antiques Market!

        Once again we're honored to be one of only two nurseries invited to sell at the Spring Plant Sale of the University of Michigan's Matthaei Botanical Gardens. The May 2-4 sale features all sorts of perennials, woodies, unusual annuals, Michigan wildflowers, and our bulbs.
        For the first time ever we'll be selling at the renowned Ann Arbor Antiques Market on May 17-18, too. Along with Victorian urns, wicker porch furniture, Arts and Crafts birdhouses, and other treasures from hundreds of dealers, you can pick up a few of our living antiques and chat with us. We'll hope to see you!

Farm Update: Still Searching, Need Hot Tips

        Our best hope fell through recently, so we've stepped up the hunt once again. If you hear even a rumor of an old house, barn, and 5-10 acres within 20 minutes of downtown Ann Arbor that might be for sale, please take a look at oldhousegardens.com/OHGFarm.asp and email or call us!

Did You Miss Our Last Newsletter? Read It Online!

        March's articles included the country's liveliest cemetery, historic plant labels, 1942 rain lilies, crocus humor, and more. You can read all 72 of our back-issues -- by date or by TOPIC -- at oldhousegardens.com/NewsletterArchives.asp .

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