Think Spring...Plant Fall; Spring-Blooming Bulbs

It seems a sacrilege to give attention to spring now, as the leaves are lighting up the skies with iridescent yellow, orange and red. Yet these vibrant colors remind us that some of our best spring color comes from bulbs that need to be put in the ground now.

Why plant bulbs? All of the information out there is how to plant bulbs, but why all the fuss anyway? As I mentioned, vibrant color is one reason. Few plants rival the ratio of leaf to flower color that most bulbs provide. Consider the daffodil - one stalk, a few narrow leaves and a complex, gorgeous flower. The tulip is the prima donna on the subject of spring bulbs, and deservedly so. ‘Marilyn’ tulips have been dancing in my garden every June for the last 8 years. The colorful flowers outshine any leafy material, displaying a sea of colorful cups.

In addition to a chromatic display, bulbs are a great way to add design elements in your garden. Keeping in mind their outsize ratio of flower to leaf, bulb-type plants can be used to achieve a multitude of virtues to your design, such as height, focal point, distinctive shapes, fragrance, definition of spaces, and pure joy that spring has arrived. In areas with regular snowfall, plants from bulbs are the first to say "Here I Am!"

Bulbs and their biological friend group of tubers, corms, and rhizomatous plants are also excellent choices when looking for native options, rodent-resistance, and cut flower value. Consider Camassia, made internationally famous by Meriwether Lewis, as your native choice. Alliums, Hyacinths, Crocus, Snowdrops, Iris, each offer one or more of these design 'virtues' to your garden.

Most bulb plants will die back after bloom. Since the bulbs need the nutrients from the leaves for next year, place them where they will be somewhat hidden by neighboring plant growth as they are allowed to turn yellow. Once yellow, they can be cut to the ground. Click on the photos to for a link with more details about what actually is a 'bulb' plant and a few recommended fall bulb plants.