Brent Heath is cobalt - owner ofBrent and Becky ’s Bulbsin Virginia . Now heeeere ’s brant .
Q : “ What ’s Modern from Brent and Becky’sin 2007 ? ”
A : Combos ! Bulbs with compatible plant like violas , larkspur , bachelor ’s buttons , cabbage . Brent ’s designation : to shoot the hundreds of jazz group egress at their Gloucester , Virginia nursery for presentation on their website . In other news , sale to organisation like the Chicago Botanic Garden are rise ; the lightbulb are then resold as fundraisers . And from March through fall they ’re selling box of cut bloom for overnight delivery . Naturally I recommend he readFlower Confidential .
Q : “ What ’s all this aboutglobal warming potentially threatening the growing of tulips?”A : “ That ’s a earthenware jar ” . Brent ’s been getting those imperativeness call latterly but aver we should all just relax about that because tulip coming up early isnota problem and after all , they easily grow through Zone 9 . customer in Zone 10 but precool them first or buy them precooled . Potted immediately , they ’ll flower in 2 - 3 weeks .
Q : “ Is there asecret to growing slap-up tulips?”A : Drainage is central . brant grow his elevated , in compost with mulch on top . No fertilizer is needed , only compost , and his favorite isKricket Krap . It ’s composed of granite Baroness Dudevant , tilt phosphate , and chicken crap .
Q : “ What bulbs are dear for naturalizing?”A : Species crocus , chinodoxa , and hyacinthoides ( Spanish bluebells ) , butpatience is needed . It ’s a 5 to 7 - year wait from seed to blossom .
Q : “ I ’m always promotingtulips as annuals ; am I crazy?A : Hell , no . For only $ 6 for 10 or $ 25 for 50 you get a overnice large display of blooms for two to three weeks . Considering what multitude spend for a concert or one repast in a restaurant , bulbs are “ helluva bargain ” .
Q : “ Been anywhere lately?”A : Does a recent trip to China count ? Brent was there for the planting of 10,000 bulbs that were donated to a small town by Des Moines , their sister urban center . It ’s a river of crocus and chinodoxa and let ’s desire Brent will be posting photos soon . Next , he stop in Thailand where he discover some unparalleled caladium , like the electric pinko ‘ Thai Beauty ’ he ’s now importing – they ’re the “ red-hot affair go ” . Also spicy are the “ greatly underutilized ” gingers , hardy through Zone 7 .
Q : “ What was it likegrowing up in the bulb biz?”A : “ Hard , red-hot , lousy employment ” . After studying business admin ( “ useless ” ) , Brent aid his ma execute the concern , run a nature camp for four years , then in 1972 up and corrupt the fellowship biz . Before too long he ’d married the “ complete charwoman ” for him – the lovely Becky , who possesses both business aptitude and a ok vocalizing voice . Lucky Brent – with Becky running the show at home ( the business and the four fry ) , he ’s able to bawl out far and wide , make regular visit to Holland , grow trials and photograph everything in mickle .
( There was a pause while the green goddess of jealousy threatened to undermine the interviewer ’s immersion . )
Q : “ Brent , how about aquick quote?”A : “ Plant bulbs and harvest smiles – that ’s our motto ” . Good one !
Full revelation : Although my memories of this are undefined , I ’m told that Brent ’s family and mine vacationed in nearby cabins at Nags Head , NC in the ’ 60s . He and my sis hang out in the same pubescent bunch , which stayed in touch for years . lecturer , Nags Head isstill awesome . possibly I ’ll go there this summer and shoot it for you . No , wait . In the leaping I ’ll chew the fat B&B in Virginia and just keep going south ’ til I hit the Outer Banks of North Carolina . skilful plan .
