Tiny treasures

Leaves are turning red and golden before our very eyes, and there’s definitely a nip in the air early in the morning and as the sun goes down. There’s no denying that fall has arrived, so it’s time to think about planting spring bulbs. Most people would think it strange to be talking about next spring when some of us are still wearing flip-flops and shorts, but gardeners are always thinking a season ahead. It’s what we do!

Tough hombres

I haven’t begun to put my garden to bed and intend to enjoy it right to the first snowfall, but I have to admit I’m already thinking about early spring bulbs. After a long Canadian winter, I’m thrilled to see the first white blooms of snowdrops, a living carpet of glory-of-the-snow or the rainbow colours of crocus announcing the arrival of spring. The tiny bulbs of early spring, which appear so fragile, are amongst the toughest plants on our planet. Some of them will bloom even while there are snowy patches still on the ground.

Snowdrops (Galanthus spp.)

These tiny members of the amaryllis family are my favourite of all early spring bulbs, with their grassy leaves and snow-white flowers. They are quick to appear from the frozen ground in early spring, and if winter returns (as it often will) the buds remain tightly closed until the first spring-like day. The key to success with snowdrops is to plant them as soon as the bulbs appear in the stores (mid-September) in an area which receives full sun to light shade in early spring. Plant snowdrops three inches deep and apart in fertile soil, and leave them to their own devices as they resent being disturbed once established. They are ideal in rock gardens and naturalize beautifully under deciduous shrubs and trees.

Winter Aconite (Eranthis spp)

Aconties are members of the buttercup family. The yellow flowers appear very early in spring often popping up through melting snow, so they are a great companion for snowdrops. Plant the tuberous roots three inches down and three to four inches apart as soon as you get them to prevent them from drying out. Some gardeners swear by soaking the tubers overnight. Choose a site in full sun to light shade with rich soil. They need soil which is fairly moist in summer in order to thrive, so amend with compost at the time of planting and provide a layer of mulch over the summer to keep the soil cool and moist.

Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa spp.)

A carpet of glory-of-the-snow is one of the most beautiful sights in early spring especially if planted under glorious yellow forsythia, although it does take a few seasons for the bulbs to naturalize enough to put on a show. Chionodoxas grow to five inches tall and produce clusters of small, starry blue flowers with a paler stripe in the middle. As the flowers self-seed easily, glory-of-the-snow is a perfect small bulb for naturalizing. Plant the bulbs in fall about three inches deep and a few inches apart in ordinary garden soil in full sun.

Siberian squill (Scilla siberica)

This tough native of northern Russia is as hardy as they come. The beautiful blue bells appear in early spring just after the narrow, grass-like leaves. Unlike many of the other early spring bulbs, these plants thrive in shade and will grow just about anywhere. Plant bulbs in the fall about three to four inches deep and a few inches apart, and that’s it. Left alone, they will spread to cover large areas with a carpet of soft blue each spring. S. siberica alba produces white flowers.

Crocuses (Crocus spp.)

There are many species of crocus and all are native to the highlands of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. These early spring bulbs come in an array of colours but I have to admit that the dark purple and white are my favourites. As they are fairly inexpensive, buy as large a package as you can in fall and plant in groups of 10 or more to put on a show next year.

Plant the corms three to four inches deep, pointed side up, from late August to early-October in an area which receives full sun for most of the day. They need good drainage, so note that the corms will drown in areas of heavy clay or soggy soil. While deer and rabbits tend to leave them alone, the same can’t be said for squirrels. Cover the bulbs with chicken wire and then a layer of shredded leaves after you plant to deter these little pests. The corms multiply rapidly, and so the plants will develop good sized colonies over a few seasons. I love seeing crocuses planted at the base of trees and beneath deciduous shrubs which leaf out a bit later in spring.

Once all of the above spring bulbs have bloomed, resist the urge to cut back the foliage, as this feeds the bulb for subsequent seasons. Allow the foliage to yellow and die back naturally. Some people have no problem waiting for this to happen when bulbs are planted in the middle of lawns. But if you like a neat and tidy garden, then plant beneath the base of deciduous trees and shrubs, in rockery areas and perennial borders, or in spaces reserved for annuals planted later in the season.

A wise person once said: “It’s the little things that make life big.” I agree, especially if you’re a gardener.