Village Condominium Association

The Village Gardens
by J. F. Weiler

Bulbs: the large bulbs are narcissus
and the small bulbs crocus.
Photo by J. F. Weiler

Fall is the time to plant spring-flowering bulbs! They can provide real joy, year after year with a minimum of maintenance. During the winter snows I always look forward to seeing the early blooming Snow Drops (Galanthus) with their upside down white bell-shaped flowers, which arrive in late winter or very early spring.

Glory-of-the-Snow (Chiondoxa) with blue six-petaled flowers is the next spring bulb to appear. Chiondoxa originally comes from Turkey.

Crocuses, which like full sun or light shade, come next in their white, purple and saffron-yellow colors. The spice saffron is gathered from the stigmas of crocus. Plant the bulbs about 2 inches down.

Tulips, which originated in Persia, are an all-time favorite with their wide range of reds, yellows, whites and violet colors. They like to be planted five inches down.

Golden daffodils (Narcissus), made famous by Wordsworth, provide beautiful trumpets surrounded by six floral petals. Four inches of soil should be above the bulbs.

All these bulbs need to be planted before the first frost. Remember to place the pointed end up and root side down when you plant bulbs. Most prefer full sun and well drained soil. Water well after planting. A piece of chicken wire over the newly dug ground will help keep the squirrels from dining on your bulbs.

Two good sources for bulbs are:

Originally published in the Oct. 2009 Village Newsletter.