Hyacinths are bulbous, spring-blooming perennials belonging to the genus Hyacinthus and a member of Asparagaceae or the Asparagus family. It’s closely related to the seasonal Crocus, summer-flowering Daylily, succulent Agave, and the vegetable Asparagus. The genus name Hyacinth originated from Greek mythology. According to legend, the god of the sun, Apolo, gave the name to … Read more
One of the delightful and charming old daffodils is Narcissus jonquilla simplex, sometimes called Queen Anne’s daffodil. Crowing 6″ to 8″ inches high, with thin, grass-like foliage, the slender stems bear several tiny, richly-scented golden-yellow blooms. This dainty hybrid is most appealing and a definite asset to every garden if planted properly. Space Groupings During … Read more
Bouvardia (boo-VAR-dee-uh) is an evergreen flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Bouvardia and is a member of the family Rubiaceae, also known as the Madder, Coffee, or Bedstraw family. The Rubiaceae family comprises mostly terrestrial trees, shrubs, herbs, or lianas, The closest relative of Bouvardia is the well-known lovely Gardenia flowers. The genus name … Read more
The crocus is the most exciting flower because they are the first. Winter is still lashing furiously about when the earliest of them—gold, purple, and white—spangle the lawn, carpet the loam under shrubs, push up through streaks of left-over snow and freeze into flowers of sheer ice when sleet storms rage. Yes, crocus are necessary … Read more
One of the most valued characteristics of a pot plant is its long blooming period. Bulbous plants often fail in this respect, but one that meets this requirement is the Scarborough lily, Vallota speciosa. This member of the amaryllis family, which is not a true lily, has umbels of scarlet, funnel-form flowers, each about 3″ … Read more
Quick Tips On Veltheimia Care Family: Asparagaceae Light: Full sun to light shade Temperature: 50° to 55° degrees Fahrenheit at night Water: Watered rarely; Moderately moist soil Fertilizer: Liquid fertilizer Propagation: Seeds, offsets, or leaf cuttings Common Problems: Fungal diseases, snails, slugs, caterpillars Veltheimia (vel-thay-mee-uh) is a bulbous perennial that belongs to the genus Veltheimia … Read more
Tulips are so varied in their color, in their height, and in their time of bloom that you can enjoy six weeks of pleasure from these gay spring-flowering bulbs by selecting your favorite varieties from the various classes. These include the early singles and doubles, the cottage varieties, the lily-flowered kinds, the breeders, the Darwins, … Read more
Ixiolirion (ik-see-oh-LEER-ee-on) is a bulbous perennial belonging to the genus Ixiolirion and a member of the Ixioliriaceae. It was previously placed in the Amaryllidaceae family, also known as the Amaryllis family, in earlier classification systems. The genus was first described in 1821, with its name derived from a Greek composition: Ixio- and the word lirion, … Read more
Color is the key to winter cheer. Few plants give you more concentrated brilliance than the bulbs you see here, so plant some this month as insurance against midseason blues. Unusual but easy is Veltheimia forest lily. Even when it is not in flower, its rosettes of waxy green leaves are decorative. Veltheimia likes a … Read more
Bulbs have priority in October gardening activities in the Northwest. Plant spring-blooming ones, and lift and store those that have finished their summer bloom. Cleaning up and composting, preparing for spring planting, and eliminating pests are important to your list. The Cascades divide the area, killing frosts already a danger east of the mountains. But … Read more