request for miniatures to use in a railroad landscape

Good morning

This came through our “contact us” button on our homepage. I’m assuming Don has a miniature railroad and wants to landscape with actual miniature Daffodils. I’ve asked him to clarify this. I’ve also cc-ed Kate Carney who is currently working on our definition of “miniature”. I thought this might lead to some lively discussion and am sharing this with all of you.

frank

From: Don Herzog
Subject: Miniature daffodills

Message Body:

I wish to correspond with anyone growing the tiniest of the daffodils to see if they would work on garden railroads. I am a garden writer and have had a miniature plant nursery for over 50 years, but did not sell bulbs.

Sincerely,

Don Herzog

 

3 comments for “request for miniatures to use in a railroad landscape

  1. Hi Don,

    What is the top height you are looking for in a train garden? The miniature daffodil has a small flower but the foliage which you would need to produce the energy for the next year’s flower can be quite tall and could be out of scale. I think of train gardens with miniature liriope size foliage which is only a few inches high. But an easy way to judge might be to get a forced pot of Tete-a tete which I have seen at grocery stores and Walmart and see if it fits your railroad landscape.

    Do you use crocus? Not the big Dutch ones but some of the species like tommasianus (I call them Tommies)-that foliage is rather short and flowers are fairly small. Brent and Becky Bulbs in Gloucester VA sell them. Another daffodil you might try if you are in Zone 7 or higher is the Bulbocodium-like Diamond Ring. Perhaps you will get other suggestions from folks on Daffnet. Also remember that daffodil foliage has to dry and turn brown once flowering is over which is not always so pretty-in a regular landscape it can be hidden by daylily emerging foliage for example.

    I would love to see a picture of your railroad landscape! I often buy “fairy” plants at the nursery-not because I have a fairy garden but they are often a cheaper way to get a start of a new plant I can use in mixed pots.

    Thanks for contacting us-I have never seen this question posed to us before. I will follow up if you give me a bit more information-like which state/zone you are.

     

    Best,

    Kate Carney

    Miniatures Chairman for the American Daffodil Society

  2. Don

    Kate Carney found a picture of Tete-a-tete being used with a “miniature” Rail Road landscape. Looks pretty good

    frank

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  3. We have supplied bulbs to Trains for the Garden in Victoria Australia: http://www.trainsforthegarden.com.au
    Tete a Tete as grown commercially is quite large. If the trains are miniatures then miniatures bred from N. asturiensis would be far more suitable.

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