Flowering gems...
As summer winds down, don’t forget to plant as many spring-blooming bulbs as time and money allows. You might not see the urgency right now, but after six months of winter, a garden brimming with daffodils is all you will care about!
With proper preparation during planting, you’ll be assured of a good performance. When you plant, add a bit of peat moss into your garden soil. Dig the bulbs into the soil about two to three times deeper than the largest diameter of the bulbs you have chosen. Most tulips, daffodils and hyacinths should be planted about six inches deep. Dig in crocus bulbs about two to three inches deep. (Or, follow the directions on the package.)
Bulbs are like buried treasure as they emerge in spectacular colors at the first sign of spring. Daffodils will come back for many years but many, such as the more exotic tulips, will probably look their best for only the first few years after planting. It makes sense to freshen up your existing bulb collection every year and also to experiment with plenty of new ones. You’ll be so happy that you made the effort this fall.
Daffodils make life simpler… Plant bulbs such as cheerful daffodils that will return every spring. Deer and rabbits don’t like them so you can keep them for yourself.
Dutch Master (14-16” tall): Large flowers show off large, deep-gold trumpets... plus more flowers per bulb. Blooms March - April.
Tete-a-Tete (6-8” tall) pictured: With 2-3 flowers on each stem, this miniature heirloom daffodil has just as much flower power as the big guys... The buttercup yellow flowers are scented and mature into larger colonies as time passes. Blooms in early from March into April.
Mixed Daffodils Value Pack (many varieties included): Can’t decide which daffodil bulbs to purchase? Give the Value Pack a try! A showy mix of early-, mid- and late- spring blooming varieties that will flower in many shapes, colors and heights are included. Daffodils are lower maintenance because they will return or ‘naturalize’ year after year.
And more low maintenance flowering bulbs that will come back year after year…
Allium ‘Globemaster’ (1.5-2.5” tall): A spectacular, large-flowering Allium with 8-inch spheres of deep lavender flowers on sturdy stems. Allium with their onion-y scent, are resistant to deer, too. Beautiful fresh or dry to use as cut flowers. Full sun to part shade. Blooms in May.
Crocus (4-6" tall on average): Crocus flowers lead the way in early spring garden color! They also naturalize, meaning that they multiply and come back year after year with minimal care. These small, short flowers look best in groupings: front of the border, woodland setting or even in the lawn. Bloom in early spring in full sun or partial shade.
Fritillaria (3-4’ tall): Fritillaria are the giants of the garden with their flower clusters of apricot-orange (Crown Imperial) or golden yellow (Maxima Lutea). Blooming in mid- to late- spring in full sun or partial sun, they look spectacular in groups of 5-6 bulbs at the back of the border. The only downside is their strange scent but that will keep the rabbits and deer away!
