You know what they say about gifts in small packages? Well, bulbs are little presents you can hold in the palm of your hand.
Think about it. You dig a hole, plunk them in any way except upside down and wait. Over the winter, like magic, they secretly spread out their roots and grow beneath the soil. Just when you’ve had all you can stand of Old Man Winter, small leaves pierce the surface, and suddenly, you know that no matter how many more late freezes, spring is on its way. If you’re like me, in early March, you kneel on the ground close to the surface of the soil and visit the little sprigs every morning encouraging their progress. Each day they grow a smidge taller until one sunny afternoon, a flower balances on top of a tall, thin stalk.
Petals softer than moonlight open toward the sun, and you find yourself turning toward that friendly orb too. If you also feel the urge to throw your hands up in the air and yell, “Woo hoo!,” go ahead. You and your bulbs earned the right to such joy by planning ahead in the fall.
So, Which bulbs take your fancy this year? Have you placed your order? May I offer a couple of suggestions?
- The smaller species tulips like T. clusiana and T. clusiana var. chrysantha, a yellow variety, T. sylvestris and ‘Tinka’ all perennialize better in climates like Oklahoma’s and further south. Brent and Becky’s have a large selection of these small gems for the garden. I especially like ‘Lady Jane’, but I’ve read she doesn’t perennialize as well as some others. We’ll see whether this is true in the lower garden once spring comes again.
- The Bulb Project has an extensive list of those bulbs which perennialize. It is worth checking out.
- If you want the larger, showier tulips, that’s fine. In Oklahoma and more southern climes, just consider them annuals, and if they return, you’ll be so much the happier.
- Whatever you buy, Narcissus, Tulipa, Chionodoxa or any others, buy more than you think you need. In fact, triple what you think you need. With bulbs, I always apply the Mae West view of, “Too much of a good thing is wonderful.”
- Buy from a reputable company like: Old House Gardens for beautiful heirlooms, Brent & Becky’s for the newest and brightest, Van Engelen for wholesale orders over $50 (without shipping), or John Scheepers’ if you’re spending less. I also like Southern Bulb Company, but I think they need to expand their repertoire. Odyssey Bulbs is a lesser known (to me) company, but they have many varied offerings. I found them through Kathy at Cold Climate Gardening.
- If you decide to place an order, may I suggest some Byzantine glads? They really light up the garden and are more delicate than my ‘Atomic’ I planted in spring. They do come back every year too and look great with daylily foliage. Also, in the diverse garden, I think Leucojum aestivum, Gravetye Giant Snowflake’ are sweet and tough beauties. Easy to grow and no fuss. In fact, Leslie from Digging Davis shared some with me two years ago, and I think of her every time I see them.
So, far, I’ve placed an order with Van Engelen and Old House Gardens. Would you like to hear what I bought?
After struggling with alliums for the last couple of seasons, I only bought the drumstick allium, Allium Sphaerocephalon this year. I will plant them in a dry spot and hope they come back. I loved them so much last year. Inspired by my friend, Gail at Clay and Limestone, I also ordered Crocus Tommas ‘Barr’s Purple’, and C. tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant.’ I’m hoping they will spread better than the other crocus I’ve grown. The same with Muscari commosum plumosum, a type of grape hyacinth and T. clusiana ‘ Lady Jane” and T. clusiana ‘Cherry Tubergens Gem.’
While in Buffalo, I saw lilies growing everywhere. I’ll be honest. I’ve not had much luck with lilies, but Mary Ann of Gardens of the Wild Wild West said the secret is to not water them after blooming thus giving them the hot dry environment they crave. Therefore, I decided to buy ‘ Black Beauty,’ and I’ll let you know how it does in coming years. I also ordered Rhodophiala bifida, oxblood lilies, and because I love Elizabeth Lawrence, C. chrysanthus, ‘Snowbunting’. It was her favorite.
Then, while at our local TLC Nursery, I picked up some ‘Red Riding Hood’ tulips because I couldn’t resist. I have a thing for red tulips and haven’t planted them in years. I also bought a precious few red spider lilies, Lycoris radiata. Because they are so expensive, let’s hope they make babies and multiply.
That’s all for me. Well, except after glancing through my pictures, I want T. ‘Maytime’ too. I’m curious about what you’re buying this year though. What bulbs are the focus of your spring garden? Maybe you’ll inspire me to buy even more.
The phlox and daffodils are stunning!
I just put my first bulbs ever in the ground half an hour ago. As silly as it sounds, I know I’m going to check them every day all fall and winter — I can’t wait for spring!
I love my bulbs and thank for your lists! I adore my Byzantine & love your pictures. I think this will be the first year I don’t add any more since I want to see what comes up again after all the trauma. I know the Byzantines and leucojums will; will see on the species tulips & others. But I honestly don’t see how anyone can garden without these little packets of surprises.
OH, check out Freesia laxa, my latest find, which you would adore. I bet they’d work for you.
As always, your pictures are wonderful. I think of all the plants I have in my garden, it is the bulbs that give me the most joy. Maybe that is because they come after the long winter lull in the garden, I don’t know.
This is the perfect post for this time of year. I totally forgot about the little yellow crocus that would be fun to add to the lawn for early spring color.
Happy Spring Planting – Bren
Loved those lily blossoms in that Buffalo garden. Great bulb info and it is the time to get those orders in. The post is a good reminder that time is running out.
Dee, I heard a talk by Chris Wiesinger of Southern Bulb Company lately. He’d love to expand his selection but doesn’t want to do so without being sure that the bulbs are truly hardy throughout the South. Like so many, his company has struggled in the last couple of years: if we want him to offer more, we have to buy more so he can stay in business. I posted about his talk a couple of days ago.
Count me in that group who talks to the emerging bulbs each spring, Dee:) Although there have been years when I have been out planting bulbs on the coldest day of November, with fingers nearly frostbitten, I tell myself it will be worth it. There’s nothing more uplifting in March and early April than seeing the first signs of flowers after a long winter. I am buying more Darwin hybrids of tulips, because they’re supposed to last longer, but I still can’t resist some of the other less hardy showy tulips. They may not last as long, but I sure enjoy them while they’re here. Thanks for all the suggestions–I am definitely going to look for those Byzantine glads–gorgeous!
My dear, I’m been popping in and out of your post as I visit and fall into the bulb purchasing rabbit hole! What fun! I appreciate those links and am crazy about the glads! Thank you for the linklove~I must admit to being a tad anxious about all the bulbs I have to plant this fall;) gail
Ooooh! Those daffodils and phlox! Just gorgeous! As much as I drool over them though, I must admit to being a bulb-challenged gardener. I just never seem to do well with them. Except for amaryllis and its near relatives. But then anyone can grow them, can’t they?
I’m getting more of the little Iris reticulatas. Planting them under Hostas solved the unsightly long foliage problem. I need more bulbs for forcing, rather than in the garden, as I accidentally divided a large clump of ‘Ice Follies’ daffodils, and now have to find places for them in the garden.
Looks like I need to get busy! I love your pictures and and all the info, Dee. Thanks!
Have a great weekend!
Kelly
Hi Kelly, thanks for stopping by. I love the bulbs and don’t quite know what I’d do without them.
I’m buying “a few bulbs” this year. In fact I’ve already placed my order. Mostly the minor bulbs, as they call them. Which reminds me I still need to get some more. Thanks for the reminder!
I hope you do buy some more, and I’ve enabled you. Bwah ha ha.
I am glad you mentioned Odyssey Bulbs. I bought some colchicums from them, as well as an allium and a stoloniferous crocus. Then Brent & Becky just put their colchicums on sale, so I bought a kind I didn’t have (C. autumnale pleniflorum) and some deep blue double hyacinths that I want to try forcing.
Kathy, I’m glad you mentioned them first. If the colchicums do well here, I’ll buy some more. I love them in the fall. I love those dark blue double hyacinths. I’ve forced the white double ones too before.
You have some beauties here Dee. I will have to study this closer when I have time. I would love to have something to come up through daylily foliage. Have a great weekend.
Hi Lisa, lovely to see you again. The Byzantine Glad do come up through the daylilies. They seem to love it there. I love them. Wish I had more.
I have daffodils (that were in my garden when I moved in), glads, and that’s all! I must remedy that and you have given me great ideas – thanks!
I hope so Ginny. Enjoy your beautiful fall and the rain at your house.
Hi Dee, this is a great reminder to order bulbs – even if you don’t garden, as you say, they’re super easy and so rewarding. Love your mention of van Engelen/Scheepers which are local Connecticut businesses – crocus and tulips are out for us here in rodentland, but I’ve put in my order for more camassias and daffodils.
Hi Cyndy, I didn’t realize they were CT businesses. I’ve bought from them for several seasons. Thanks.
Thanks for all the references! I needed that being new to planting bulbs.
No problem, Liz. It’s nice to know where to buy them.
Hi Dee, what a wonderful post, helping us to remember the wonderment felt as spring bulbs poke through crusty frozen earth. There is nothing like it, no matter what type of bulb it is. We have a thing for lilies and ordered from Old House for the first time. We are trying the Alliums once again, they have not been perennial here as they are purported to be. We will hold our mouth differently this time. Species tulips are great. Lady Jane comes back here faithfully, in very dry soil. Colchicums were planted for the first time, inspired by Kathy of Cold Climate Gardening. So many bulbs, too many is not enough! 🙂
Thank you so much Frances. I think bulbs are the easiest type of gardening you can do. You plant them and they appear like magic in spring.
As you know, I ordered a lot, but I am most excited about my hyacinths this year. I ordered some very dark blues and some gorgeous pink ones that are unlike any I have ever seen before from Old House. Good for you for trying lilies! I don’t know why they wouldn’t work for you. You may also try the ones that are closest to the species.
Thank Eliz, I’ll let you know how the lilies turn out. I chose ‘Black Beauty’ because they said it was great for southern gardens.