Lifting Elephants

…Ears, Cannas and Gladiolas.

That time of year.

Remember my Black Magic Elephants Ears?  They did GREAT this year. I bought 2 bulbs from Lowe’s at $20 a bulb! Not a typical purchase for me, but I wanted them REALLY bad.  Ryan was with me and I pretended shock when we got to the check out. But really, what’s he going to do then? Not get them?! 

Plus I told him that I could lift them in the Fall, so next year, they really only cost $20, then the next year $10, then $5…and so on and so on.  If you think about it, those things are an INVESTMENT!



I also had two fabulous Cannas in a pot with some bamboo my neighbor gave me.  I think I paid $5 for the Cannas. The did great and bloomed all summer.






And I’d gotten about 50 gladiolas for $5 in mid-summer, which is late.  I got them in the ground, but only about 5 bloomed.  I’ll get them in the ground earlier next year, and they should do better.

Starting to get some early morning light frost, so, last weekend I dug them all up, separated what I could and have spread them out in the basement to dry. I’ve got all my originals, plus about 18 baby Elephant Ears! about 10 more cannas, and about 80 glad bulbs.  YAY!  If I can keep them from rotting, it’ll all be good.

I typically have good luck with saving bulbs (or corms or whatever). However, last year I had a bunch of caladiums, but failed to dry them properly before storage.  ugh….they were a soft, mushy mess when I pulled them out in the Spring.  I learned my lesson.



Here’s to having a plan and sticking to it. And really, it’s like growing money…right!?!?