Spring flowers bring joy and awaken dormant senses with delight. When the snow finally fades and the dreary state of winter melt has set in, the sight of greens breaking ground, even under snow, is a sight that breathes life. There are many forms of spring flowers blooming in all shapes and sizes, with some arriving before the thaw and others carrying on until summer takes the stage.
Earliest blooms come from the crisp white snowdrops bursting up through those last few inches of snow, with their precious buds bowing in a glow reminding us that the earth is alive. Then the purple, yellow, and white hues of crocus poke the surface and shine their stunning color, lasting several weeks even in the freeze and rain. Daffodils quickly rise in a plethora of yellows, oranges, and whites, filling garden gaps in amazing happiness and feeling like sunshine themselves. Tulips and hyacinths color the latter stages of spring, dazzling us in their stunning palette choices and different stages of bloom; from early to late, they are a true sight of spring. Alliums, with their proud purple globes, are the last to join the bulb dance, but are often blooming when little else is. They fill the space between spring bulbs and early summer perennials, all sturdy and uprighteous purple.
Bulbs are most stunning when planted in groups or drifts a bit denser than the label says with a possible preference to shifting drifts, where one pallet mixes with another slightly. Organic shapes to the drifts look most natural, but sometimes just wedging them in anywhere between perennials can produce a fantastic show. Planting time is very late fall, often November the last few seasons, to set their cycle to the ground freeze. If planted too soon, they could grow or rot prior to finding their rhythm. Bulbs are perennial, but not all reproduce (best to inquire if that is your desire). Most will bloom reliably for three to five years, with our happiest gardens seeing a small bulb addition each or every other year. Cutting bulbs encourages them to rebloom next season, so no fear to fill a vase.
Bulbs can be cut back as they fade, but it is best to let the greens turn yellow first; this is the time for the bulb to replenish for next bloom. We often tie up or bundle and wrap daffodil greens into knots so they can do their cycle without interrupting perennial growth in the garden. It also makes cutting them down later much easier. Some bulbs reproduce via seed, so leaving that seed head can be beneficial. Avoid overwatering at any time of the season, as it can contribute to rot and low flower production.
Rodents can always be a challenge, but there are some tactics. The whole tulip is edible, while daffodils are toxic to ingest. Crocus flowers seem to get eaten, but the bulbs are often left alone. And alliums are essentially onions that bloom at a time when the garden is full of good eating. Burying bulbs as deep as they need is key—three times as deep as the bulb is tall at minimum. Firmly pressing the earth after planting is helpful to make any rodent digging more challenging, and water well to set the soil around the bulbs. Another trick is to stir the garden in other areas to confuse them, as they know where you have been. Small chunks of chicken wire placed a few inches above the bulbs is helpful where chipmunks and squirrels dwell in bounty. If the bunnies won’t leave you a flower, then there is the old-fashioned garden cloche.
Spring bulbs fill a space and time in the garden that struggles to be filled by any other plant specimens, and with the long Wisconsin winter, they are truly a welcome sight like no other. They do require a bit of cold-weather groundwork, but when the bloom arrives, you will have forgotten November and embrace spring.
Karina Mae is the designer and team leader at Garden Search and Rescue.
Photographs provided by Garden Search and Rescue.
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