Spring is finally here

3/20/2013

Have you seen them? No, not the robins. They have been back home for a while now. I'm talking about all of the bulbs you planted around your yard. The first day of spring is officially today, and the bulbs are a good reminder that spring is here.

Through the snow

You can see the first signs of the bulbs in February even when there is snow on the ground. That's where they get their name, Snow Drops. Another early bloomer is the Winter Aconite, which thrives when planted under a tree where they can get some dappled shade from the tree canopy.

Crocus is another early bloomer. Common and Dutch Crocus usually start blooming in March, then fade by the end of April. Daffodils will emerge in mid March and like to spread out. Their bright yellow trumpet-like flowers are usually a long lasting spring bloomer, lasting until early May.

Early summer

Hyacinth are one of my favorite bulbs because they have a vibrant color and are extremely aromatic. When they start to bloom, they will turn heads with their color and fragrance. Tulips are next and come in almost all the colors of the rainbow and a variety of sizes and shapes.

One of the most romantic spring bulbs is the violet. They are dainty and beautiful and usually a sign of love. You will see them blooming in a shady spot in April as well as the tiny grape hyacinth. If you plant them in large numbers, they become a dark purple matt in the garden until May.

Spring star flowers and summer snowflakes will bloom through April. Iris is another common rhizome that is easy to grow and that will flourish. These can be so hardy that they can choke out weaker plants if you let them have their space. They come in all varieties of height and color. Some are early bloomers and others are late. You could have one area in your garden easily devoted to iris and watch it flower from early spring until late summer.

Summer bloomers

Rhizomes, tubers and corms can take the heat of summer and even carry over into fall. They are usually planted close to the surface and will soak up even the smallest amount of moisture to keep going.

Blooms that look like a huge purple dandelion are actually related to the onion. They are called allium. You can find a few different colors and sizes and one variety is almost as big as a soccer ball.

The purple Garden lily will start blooming in late May and carry you into the fall. Lilies are also summer bloomers. Here's a good combination for you. Try planting the Asiatic lily. It will bloom until June, then the trumpet lily takes over until July and the Oriental lily will last until September.

There are so many other combinations that will help add color to your landscape all season long. Take pictures of your spring garden and it will help you plan for more bulb planting in the fall.

Contact Kelly Heidbreder at getgrowing@gmail.com.