Summer Joy 10: Bulb catalogs

Burgundy Lace (actual color deeper than appears here) with muscari

This week we received the first bulb catalog of the year from Breck's, "direct to you from Holland since 1818."

At our previous house, knowing crocuses, tulips, daffodils, grape hyacinths, Dutch irises, and lilies were asleep beneath the snow gave me a sense of anticipation from New Year's Day through the month of March.

The previous owners had left large purple crocuses, yellow daffodils, orange Asiatic lilies, and a few stray tulips. Partly inspired by the glorious array of color put forth during Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan, I added a few more bulbs every year. By the time we moved, there were not yet the masses of color recommended in Mrs. Greenthumbs, but there was something new coming into bloom continually during spring and early summer.* I was sorry to leave it. (The subsequent owner has apparently torn out most of the landscaping and replaced it with the ubiquitous yew.)

Now we start anew, with a yard which, until now, has had no time for spring-flowering bulbs. Where to start.

Breck's has a good coupon included in its catalog. Bluestone Perennials, here in Ohio, is a trusted source of plants. I will also check out the bulbs at Free Trees and Plants, which employs workers with disabilities.**

I have learned from my sister-in-law in Florida, and our own experience living in Georgia, that gardeners in the south cannot grow most spring-flowering bulbs; the cold season down there is not long enough for their hibernation period. Tulip bulbs would need to be kept in the refrigerator several months, in Florida, for them to bloom.

Tulips and daffodils are one compensation for our long, cold winters.

*I see Bookish Gardener is able to keep this progression going during spring, summer, and probably fall.
**Thanks to Dawn at Frugal for Life, for adding them to her site.

Dutch iris