Gumdrops and trumpets

Picture this. Tiny white flowers poking out from under frosty leaves, while snow still lingers in shady pockets around the yard. A carpet of yellow covering the ground long before most plants begin to grow. Brightly colored gumdrops popping up here and there, wherever there’s a bit of sun, and sword-shaped leaves beginning to push through the recently thawed soil, announcing the imminent arrival of yellow, white and pink trumpets. All of these visions can become a reality in next spring’s garden if you act now by planting masses of spring-flowering bulbs.

The first bulbs to bloom in spring, often before the snow is completely gone, are snowdrops (Galanthus spp.). These tiny white flowers with green markings are a cause for celebration after a long winter. They are inexpensive, easy to grow and will spread by seed, forming large drifts in time. Plant them either near a path that you use frequently over the winter, or, for the more adventurous, farther away, to give you an excuse to explore the garden very early in the spring.

The gumdrop colors of giant crocus are a cheery sight when everything else is in shades of brown and gray. They are not especially deer resistant, and if moles are a problem in the yard, they may enjoy a crocus bulb breakfast, but the bulbs are so inexpensive, and they are so cheerful when they bloom, it’s worth losing a few now and then. If your mole problem is severe, try planting several bulbs in a cage of chicken wire or hardware cloth, or surround each clump with a layer of grit. Plant them in groups of at least five to six bulbs per clump, more if possible. A single crocus bulb in the middle of a garden bed is a sorry sight indeed.

There’s no reason I can think of why everyone shouldn’t have daffodils in their garden. Nothing eats either the bulb or the above ground parts, and they grow anywhere there’s a bit of sun. They come in colors ranging from bright yellow to white and soft pinks, they bloom for a long time, and they multiply to form large clumps. Even if you live in a high-rise apartment, there are varieties of narcissus that can be easily forced into bloom on the windowsill. What more can you ask of a flower bulb? Every garden deserves daffodils in lots of sizes and colors, from the giant yellow King Alfred to the tiny yellow and white Minnow.

Whichever spring-blooming bulbs you choose to plant, they need to be planted soon, before the ground freezes. Good drainage is essential. Any bulb will rot if subjected to standing water. Fertilizer isn’t necessary at planting time, as all bulbs by definition have everything they need to bloom next year, but go ahead and add some bone meal or bulb booster when you plant if it makes you feel better. The best time to fertilize them is just after they bloom, when the leaves are busy storing energy in the bulb for the following year. Plant them in groups, never alone. I can’t think of any bulb that doesn’t look better when planted in groups of five or more. Plant as many per clump as space and your pocketbook allow for a good show in spring.

Bulbs are available everywhere this time of the year, but a better variety and perhaps a better quality can be found via mail. Even if you choose to buy from the local store, catalogs serve as a handy reference. Try VanDyck’s ( vandycks.com, 800/248-2852) or VanBourgondien ( dutchbulbs.com, 800/622-9959) to start. For those seeking something more unusual, try John Scheepers ( johnscheepers.com, 860/567-0838) or VanEngelen ( vanengelen.com, 860/567-8734). That should give you enough gumdrop and trumpet dreams to last a lifetime!