The Wonderful World of Bulbs

NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO THINK AHEAD AND PLANT SPRING BULBS!

My love affair with flower bulbs began in 1974 after settling into my first home on Cape Ann in Massachusetts.  The house was small and looked like it hadn’t been updated since the Great Depression.  The yard was the size of a postage stamp.  My husband and I didn’t care about that; we were young and hip and brimming over with enthusiasm.  Getting in touch with the earth that our little yard provided seemed a natural course of action; so when spring rolled around we found the sunniest spot, turned over the grass, added manure and planted vegetables.  By late summer we were knee deep in tomatoes, zucchini and green beans.  Our tiny kitchen became a hothouse of frenzied canning and blanching.  We could not believe the bounty that this little patch of earth provided and from then on we were hooked.  After adding some roses and perennials, we looked forward to the abundant blooms in our future.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

Still burning with gardening fever that fall, I was easily seduced by a package offer of the earliest spring bulbs from a mail-order catalog.  These were bulbs that went beyond the familiar daffodils and tulips I had grown up with.  The idea of having blooms earlier than daffodils, well before the perennials came to life or annuals could even be planted, thus extending my gardening season by two or more months, was a prospect I couldn’t turn away from.  Captivated by the bulbs’ exotic names of “Puschkinia” and “Chionodoxa,” I promptly mailed in my order.  I had no idea of the big impact those little bulbs would have on me.  When the tiny floral gems burst through the soil early the following spring, I thought, “Where have you been all my life?” and fell head over heels in love with bulbs. It was just the beginning.

MOVING FORWARD

Fast forward 20 years later to my 2nd home further inland with two forested acres and an expansive sunny backyard.  So much land, so many gardening opportunities!  A large vegetable garden was a given and there was plenty of room for perennial beds.  Of course, no flower bed would be complete without my beloved bulbs.  I couldn’t wait to get started!

An existing foundation garden around the front of the house just begged for the close-up blooms of early bulbs.  I planted all the usual suspects and found that crocus and tulips were just a tasty treat for all the critters that also lived in my yard, so I began to look further into the bulb world.  Slowly, through trial and error, I settled on the most dependable bulbs for my Zone 6 semi-shaded garden.  These included, of course, my first loves of Puschkinia, Chionodoxa and the earliest of all, Galanthus or Snowdrops.  Thalia Narcissus thrives in my rich humusy soil along with Hyacinth and the anemone, Grecian Windflower.  These are followed by Spanish Bluebells looking like fairy princesses in their violet, bell-shaped blooms.  Later bulbs such as the stately Alliums and Ornithogalum bloom well into June and fragrant, exotic Lilies carry on right through the heat of summer.

All of these bulbs thrive in my garden, slowly spreading over time and putting on a spectacular show starting some years as early as February.  They take up little space, complement existing garden plants and require minimal care.

SOME TIPS FOR PLANTING BULBS

• When planning your flower bed, plant perennials first, then tuck your bulbs in around them. Always follow planting depth and spacing recommendations.  After blooming, when the bulb foliage starts to ripen and turn brown, the perennials will take over and hide the dying foliage.  Never remove the spent bulb foliage; the bulbs need it to store energy for next season!
• Get a good organic bulb food and follow directions on the package.  Don’t over fertilize!
• Study your garden’s sunlight and soil conditions and plant accordingly.  Take the time to read about your favorite bulb’s preferences.  Does it like shade, sun, moist or dry soil?

BE FEARLESS

There’s a world of bulbs that bloom from spring to autumn.  Chat with gardeners in your neighborhood; search the internet, catalogs and gardening publications.  Take a chance and experiment with something new and unusual.  You may find that you fall in love with bulbs, too!

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