IF I SAY ‘HEIRLOOM,’ YOU’D probably say “seed,” but the topic today is heirloom bulbs—and especially dahlias. Mr. Heirloom Bulb himself, Scott Kunst of Old House Gardens, tells us why we should share his “anthropological passion” for these exceptional plants, and how to grow them.
Since 1993, Scott has published a catalog (and more lately of course a website) from his headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that represents the only American resource devoted exclusively to heirlooms bulbs, many available nowhere else.
After a degree from Columbia, Scott returned to Michigan to teach school, and bought an 1870s fixer-upper house that he says led to an epiphany, when he realized some of the plants outside it were history-filled hand-me-downs of gardeners past. He pursued a master’s degree in historic preservation, and worked as a landscape historian, and has taught landscape history and preservation at Eastern Michigan University.
In our Q&A on my public-radio show and podcast on February 24, 2014, we talked about oldtime bulbs:
my heirloom-bulb q&a with scott kunstQ. When we spoke the other day, Scott, you said something I really loved about your relationship to oldtime bulb varieties. You said:
“I have an anthropological passion for these things.”
Tell us about what heirloom bulbs are–what draws you to them, and why we should grow them in our gardens.
A. Heirloom bulbs are older varieties that have been handed down, and have some enduring value and interest. Some people try to define them by a specific date—they have to be this old, or that old–but I’m not that kind of guy. If they’re old, if they’re worthy, if they’re at risk–I’m interested.
What draws me to heirloom bulbs: they’re great garden plants, which is why they’ve
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Flowering shrubs can grace your garden, adding color, interest and sometimes fragrance to the home landscape. For the biggest, showiest flowers, you’ll also need to take into account the sun exposure of the garden site. But never fear, there are flowering shrubs for landscaping that like sun and others that like shade.
Experience the charm of Cactus with Arms, where nature takes on an unexpected twist. These captivating plants bring you the rugged beauty of cacti with arms, showcasing nature’s creativity at its finest.
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Start a new holiday tradition with your family this year by making orange pomander balls. They can be hung on your Christmas tree as ornaments, attached to garlands, or used in a holiday centerpiece with live greenery. These delicious-smelling, clove-studded oranges will fill your home with a festive spicy fragrance.
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In the fall of 2016, Dr. Connally won a $1.6 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control to fund a four-year study, in coordination with the University of Rhode Island, to gauge the effectiveness of various tick control methods in the areas around people’s homes. She’ll tell us more about the angles being pursued, and also about self-care topics, from treated clothing to the use of topical repellents and more.Read along as you listen to the Dec. 11, 2017 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on iTunes or Stitcher (and browse my archive of podcasts here).backyard tick research, with dr. neeta connallyQ. A little context first: You’re in the Northeast, where a lot of the cases of Lyme in the United States occur, but there are multiple tick species around the nation. You
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Since 1993, Scott has run Old House Gardens, the only American resource devoted exclusively to heirloom bulbs, many available nowhere else–older varieties that have been handed down for their enduring value and interest.After a degree from Columbia, Scott returned to Michigan to teach school and bought an 1870s fixer-upper house in Ann Arbor that led to an epiphany when he realized some of the plants outside it were hand-me-downs of gardeners past. He pursued a masters in historic preservation, worked as a landscape historian, and has taught landscape history at Eastern Michigan University.And most important for this discussion: Having that whole catalog of b