You’ve noticed, I’m sure, how quickly the snow melts away from the south wall of a building. Where the sun’s heat is amplified by reflection, the grass turns green and dandelions often flower in February. But have you thought of utilizing your south wall for something more rewarding than dandelions? Species crocuses are well adapted … Read more
It is time to think about planting lilies again. One friend of mine has discovered that if he sends, say, $20 dollars or more according to how flush he feels, and asks for any odds and ends the lily grower has on hand he gets a wonderful bargain. He does not ask for any named … Read more
Many kinds of bulbs are planted in the fall. A great number of them give spring bloom. Examples are snowdrops, squills, grape hyacinths, crocuses, tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. A few are not hardy in the northern part of our region, but most can winter through, especially with good mulch protection. Select good-sized bulbs if you … Read more
Tigridia pavonia is one of the most popular ornamental flowers in the Americas. Unfortunately, these popular flowers can be trickier than some other bulbs, especially for newcomers. Once you figure them out, you’ll have no problem growing some incredible plants! If you want to learn more or grow some glorious blooms for yourself, look no … Read more
Formerly known as Naegelia in Mexico, Temple Bells are beautiful bell-shaped winter flowers that range in color from cream to red, with large heart-shaped leaves sometimes marked with purple veins and red hairs. These beautiful plants are Temple Bells because their flowers rise above the leaves in late summer and fall and hang down bell-shaped … Read more
The agapanthus (a-guh-pan-thuhs) plants are outdoor garden perennial flowers that bloom in the summer. They are more commonly known as the “Lily of the Nile” or the African lily plant. Apaganthus plants belong to a subfamily of flowering plants known as the Agapanthoideae, the Amaryllidaceae family. This family of plants is in the same family … Read more
Question: We just moved from the east coast, where our Hemerocallis (day lily) always was a color treat in our landscape. Now that we have settled into the mid-west and are ready to start planting, can we include the day lily Hemerocallis as a part of our flower garden? I’ve always enjoyed different cultivars and … Read more
Cyrtanthus (ker-TAN-thus) is a flowering bulbous perennial belonging to the genus Cyrtanthus and the Amaryllidaceae (am-uh-ril-id-AY-see-ee) family, better known as the Amaryllis family. The genus Cyrtantus is also considered the Amaryllidaceae family’s largest genus. The botanical or genus name Cyrtanthus is derived from the Greek word ‘kyrtos,’ which means curved, and the word ‘anthos,’ meaning … Read more
There is a veritable gold mine of rich and varied color among the tender summer-flowering bulbs – a potential treasure of which the intelligent gardener will take full advantage. Most of these “bulbs” (the term is used herein in a general sense to include not only genuine bulbs but corms, tubers, tuberous roots, and rhizomes) … Read more
Cyclamen (SY-kla-men), is a flowering herbaceous perennial belonging to the genus Cyclamen and from the primrose family, Primulaceae. This perennial flowering bulb is native to regions of the Mediterranean, Middle East, South Europe, and North Africa. It generally thrives in deciduous woodlands, alpine meadows, rocky areas, and scrublands. Cyclamen is well-known for its swept-back curved … Read more