Think of the colour white and the image of a wedding dress, eggs or snow will likely spring to mind. But with a little stretch of your imagination, visualize instead a small corner bed or a border around a patio filled with white plants. Single-colour schemes are sometimes referred to as “monochromatic” — a term that takes the romance out of any flower arrangement — but be … [Read more...] about Design a white garden
narcissus
25 recommendations for favourite bulbs
It’s a leap of faith. You bury a small, non-descript fibrous mass, not always knowing which end is up. Some bulbs you plant in fall; others you plant in spring and dig up in fall, knowing that winter will turn them to mush. You may well mark where they’re buried, then forget about them. But one day you see signs of growth, and you’re pleased with yourself because you made the … [Read more...] about 25 recommendations for favourite bulbs
Where and when to plant spring bulbs
Spring is not the time to plant spring-blooming bulbs, such as hyacinths, daffodils and tulips, but it is the best time to plan where you’ll plant these bulbs a few months later, in the fall. I confess that I don’t enjoy planting bulbs, despite the promise of a more beautiful spring the following year. Usually, I’m in denial that another garden season is ending, and put off … [Read more...] about Where and when to plant spring bulbs
How to grow spectacular spring-flowering containers
Wouldn’t it be nice to grow your own favourite bulbs for spring-flowering containers? Most first attempts involve planting the bulbs in containers in the fall, watering them and waiting for spring. With few exceptions, the result is a container filled with wet soil and rotted bulbs. What happened? Well, there is this natural phenomenon that shaped Canada’s landscape AND has … [Read more...] about How to grow spectacular spring-flowering containers
Scented spring bulbs
I’ve come around to a picky point of view, and that is, I favour spring bulbs with scented flowers. That might seem like a basic gardening no-brainer, but there are some flowers that are more about style and flash, and less about fragrance. For instance, I’ve yet to find any of the elaborately evolved parrot tulips with scent to match their increasingly strange mutations. … [Read more...] about Scented spring bulbs
