Guerrilla Tulips!!

Our yard is under attack this year, but by something stealthier than the usual thistle or Buckthorn. This year, we're experiencing random attacks by Tulips. Yes, you heard me, Tulips!
The one in the photo to the left seemed like a not-too-unusual surprise. It came up by a large Lilac bush that Grizzled had thinned this last summer.  There was a good chance it had been there all along and merely needed some sun and air to push forth. Or, maybe when digging up some of the roots, Grizzled loosened up the pre-existing bulb.
We have plenty of red tulips in the yard, some that came with the place, some that we planted. We admired this Tulips contributed and moved on...

Until... attack of Tulip #2... Tulip #2 wasn't even any of the colors of Tulips we had in our yard. This Tulip, as you can see, is more of a Chiclet purple... a color that looks intriguing and is fun and filled with promise and yet really doesn't look good on much other than a flower, Fruit Loops or the afore mentioned Chiclet. This baby showed up under a front bush where no other Tulips are planted. It's next to some Daffodils and the Bleeding Heart which looked fabulous this year. Maybe the Tulip just sensed a good time and wanted to join in.

The last guerrilla Tulip was sighted right in the middle of our swing set (please ignore all volunteer Buckthorns, Maples and Creeping Charlie... it's been busy and I haven't been able to go into full weed attack-mode yet). You can sit on the swings without stepping on it, but will swing right over it. There is no way, no how, that we would plant a Tulip in this spot. It would not be practical, but then maybe Tulips don't want to be practical, maybe we're the ones who are being too practical and the Tulips are showing us otherwise.

One thing I noticed is that the renegade Tulips showed up only in areas that had wood chips. The wood chips came from the village from the communal pile. Do you think there's a chance that some Tulip bulbs got mixed in and then were still covered enough to survive a wicked winter?

I'm guessing it might be a pesky squirrel. I'm guessing a pesky  squirrel probably broke into various neighbors' gardens and then buried the bulbs back in our "easy to dig in" wood chips which are located right next to our "easy to eat out of" bird feeders.

I've experienced plenty of volunteer flowers before and am hip to how they are spread, but I think this is the first year I've had volunteer Tulips. I'm guessing it was the squirrels and then the conditions were just right for the Tulips to survive. I'd like to think though that while we're asleep, Tulips are just running willy nilly through the neighborhood and when the sun shines and the people come out, they dive for cover wherever they might be.

Comments

[Dan Leo]

Nice.

[blue girl]

I second Dan. Very, very nice. I love tulips! Lucky you.

[Kathleen]

there was a massive Blue Jay outside my bathroom window this morning as I was brushing my teeth. I thought of you.

[Jennifer]

K- I do have blue eyes... :)

Thanks Dan and BG. I hope we find more!

[The Uncanny Canadian]

I wonder if this is related to the rogue blueberries that showed up Pinko's fridge. The plants are messing with us before they declare war. I knew they were up to something ....

[Brando]

You better waterboard them and ask where the rest of the tulips are coming from.

[johnny rotten of sunnybrook farm]

Why would the jay be blue?

[blue girl]

Even though I read this post yesterday, I clicked over this morning and saw Mr. Rotten's comment and read your post title as "Guerrilla Tequila!!"

...as if Tequila needed to get tougher.

[johnny rotten of sunnybrook farm]

I love guerrilla tequila....

[mdhatter]

In my college days some folks surreptitiously planted a 40 foot diameter circle of the main lawn near the pond in the center of campus with little purple flowers, arranged in a peace sign. It came up for several years. Surprise flowers!!!