King Alfred Daffodils. Judith Canty Graves photo
“Bulbs need so little and give back so much. They start off homely, even ugly, and return transformed.” ~ Lauren Springer Ogden
By Judith Canty Graves
You may think it strange to plant your spring garden in the fall, but that is actually the right time to set out bulbs that will bloom next March and April. Spring bulbs need cold weather for three to four months in order to produce blooms, which is why planting them in November is essential for a colorful garden in the early spring.
Every September I begin to think about the flowers I would like to see in my spring garden, so I study garden catalogs and go to local plant nurseries to see their bulb selections. Garden catalogs arrive as early as August with photos of spring flowers. By September, I see selections of bulbs in stores. My experience has been that these bulbs can sell fairly quickly. One year I waited until late October and most of the bulbs had sold, so the timing of bulb purchases is important.
Jonquils. Photo by Judith Canty Graves
There are many different types of early spring flowers to plant; in fact, the variety is incredible! Some of the most popular are crocus, tulips and daffodils. Snowdrops, hyacinth, dwarf iris and muscari are also good choices. All these bulbs come in a variety of colors, so there are plenty of choices to have attractive blooms in your garden for next spring, when we will all need to see color.
It is possible to buy bulbs that have different bloom times, so check the information on the bulb package to see if the bloom will be early spring, mid-spring or late spring. Since I enjoy having a succession of flowers for several weeks, I choose the bulbs carefully to spread
out the blooms.
My favorite spring bulb flowers are narcissus and all of their variations of colors and sizes. The term narcissus is the botanical name for all daffodils and jonquils, which are similar. One difference between the two is that daffodils have only one flower per stem, while jonquils have up to five flowers per stem with an exquisite fragrance. I have grown both here in Western North Carolina with outstanding results.
Crocuses are perfect for the early spring garden because they are vibrant and hardy, tolerating cold temperatures and able to push up through snow with blooms in yellow, lavender and white. An even earlier blooming flower is the snowdrop. This tiny plant produces bright white flowers that emerge in late February. Over time, snowdrops will spread to produce a carpet of white blooms that emerge through the snow or fallen leaves. I always feel excited by this, as it is one of the first signs of spring. These flowers provide important food for early pollinators on a mild winter day.
As you look at your bulbs for next spring when you plant them, appreciate how these small brown lumps will produce the most radiant flowers as a sign that winter has ended!
Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily.
