2017-10-01 Birds & Bloom

44 birdsandblooms.com OCTOBER (^) I NOVEMBER 2017
Get Purple Sensation
alliums in the ground
now to enjoy 4-inch,
bee-loving purple
globes next season.
LEFT TO RIGHT: GAP PHOTOS/JAN SMITH; GAP PHOTOS/ VISIONS
THE BASICS
Start smart and reap happy results.
From planning to designing, these tips
ensure success.
Know your bulbs. There are those that flower
in spring (scilla, allium, tulip, fritillary,
hyacinth, crocus, snowdrop) and those that
stun in summer (dahlia, gladiolus). Spring-
flowering bulbs are planted the previous fall.
This gives them time to adequately chill before
rolling out their spectacular show months later.
Make a plan. Look around and take stock of
your existing plants. Consider where bare spots
appear in early spring (under trees, in annual
beds, along walkways where perennials won’t
make an appearance until later), and imagine
how a bed of beautiful bulbs would brighten up
those areas.
Select the best. When buying bulbs at your
local garden center, give them a good once-
over. Make sure they are firm—avoid bulbs
with mushy or moldy spots. Choose the
largest bulbs in the variety you’re after, as
those tend to be reliable bloomers. For a more
comprehensive selection, check the websites of
online nurseries.
Choose colors wisely. Mix and match spring-
blooming bulbs as you wish, but resist the urge
to include too many colors or varieties. Two to
three will keep the look interesting and tasteful.
Imagine drifts of orange-fringed tulips and
grape hyacinths, or sweeping drifts of daffodils
in varying hues mixed with pretty pansies.
Daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses and tulips are welcome sights for the
winter-weary. If you’ve ever looked at a swath of colorful spring bulbs with envy, plant a
bed of your own. With this helpful guide, it’s easy to do and completely foolproof!