Some flowers grow from seeds and some spread from the roots of the original plant. Others grow from bulbs. The bulbs remain even after the flower has shed its petals and the leaves have turned brown and withered. These bulbs will lie dormant throughout several seasons of the year and then at the appointed time they will produce leaves and bloom again. They require very little care and when planted in the right spot will multiply and produce beautiful flowers.
Bulbs can be planted directly into the ground or in most any type of container with good drainage. Lay your bulbs out on the soil in the place that you have chosen to plant them. Arrange them in the design that you want, placed about 6 inches apart or if you want the flowers to appear in a bunch then plant the bulbs accordingly. Dig a hole about 3 inches deep, place the bulb in it with the roots down and fill in the hole with loose dirt.
The area where you plant your bulbs should be at least partially sunny and well drained. Poor drainage can cause your bulbs to rot.
Many beautiful flowers grow from bulbs, large blooms with tall stems, tiny delicate flowers with tall thin stems, heavy blooms with short sturdy stems. You have an endless variety of solid colors and stripes to choose from.
Spring bulbs include hyacinth, crocus, grape hyacinth, jonquils, daffodils, narcissus, tulips, and amaryllis. Summer dahlias, gladiolas, elephant ears, caladiums, canna and calla lilies and tiger lillies are all equally as beautiful and come in a number of colors and sizes. You can plant any or all of these in the same bed or planter. They can even be planted with a large bulb under and just behind a smaller one so that the blooms are side by side similar to a florist's arrangement.
You can plant your bulbs directly in the ground in a flower bed or in a row in front of your house. They make a nice border beside a driveway or alongside a fence. Since they have a short blooming season and then are dormant for several months, they can be put almost anywhere without being in the way of grass cutting or yard trimming.
A problem that we have to deal with in our area is moles. They love the taste of flower bulbs! Their tunnels run from one bulb to another as they eat their way around the flower garden. There are several mole deterrents on the market but the only thing that we have found that works is to plant our bulbs in flower pots or in beds built over layers of plastic so that the moles can't get through.
Another idea for bulb planting is to use a large container. An old wheelbarrow, a utility sink, the tub of a goldfish pond or any other container you may have that would hold dirt can become a nice flower pot for your bulb garden. Any kind of flower pot that has proper drainage can be used.
Most bulb flowers have a short blooming season and will begin to shed their petals after a week or so. Then the foliage will start to wilt and turn from green to yellow to brown and then fall off. Don't worry - your bulbs are only resting up for the next growing season. They will lie dormant until the time when they will bloom again next year. During this time some of them will begin to form new bulbs from the original one. In the fall, if they are big enough and can be separated without damaging either bulb, you can take the new bulb and plant it in it's own spot.
During the dormant time you can plant other flowers over the bulbs being careful not to puncture the bulbs. Perennials will grow and bloom in opposite seasons from the bulbs and your flower bed will be filled with blooms from spring through fall.
Enjoy the beauty that nature offers and the relaxation that comes from being outdoors.
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