Tulip 'Avignon Parrot'

I bought 30 of these bulbs last November, having been let down at the last minute by a more famous nursery. I planted them early December with a bit of mycorrhizal fungi and grit under each one. They ALL came up and only two didn’t flower perfectly. Like all parrots, flowers are green until they open but it’s worth the wait! They are stunning, red orange blooms: if you fully opened the petals they’d be dinner-plate sized. Like something from a Dutch still-life but bigger. They do flop over a little (so you may wish to stake them) but luckily I had them in a bed full of hellebores which helped support them. Absolutely glorious and much admired - would certainly buy again! Clearly excellent quality and very consistent bulbs, which is a rare thing...