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
The amateur gardener is now faced with the annual problem of digging and storing his tender Summer-flowering bulbs. He knows that failure to lift them, except for a few varieties that may be saved by adequate protection, will mean certain death to them. Summer Flowering Bulbs For storage purposes, the Summer-flowering bulbs may be classified … Read more
Dry off achimenes after they’re through flowering by gradually reducing the water you give them. When they’re completely dried, remove the top of the plants and store the scaly rhizomes in the container in which they were growing. The best storage spot is under the greenhouse bench or in a cool room where the temperature … 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
Imaginative home gardeners are discovering that the fragrant hyacinth with its rainbow set of colors need not be confined to formal beds as in Victorian times but lends itself to planting in many areas outdoors around the contemporary home. And for winter enjoyment and indoor decoration, hyacinth bulbs may be grown in pots of soil … Read more
The first tiny bloom peeping through the ice and snow proves that winter’s strength is broken, that the earth is warming, and that spring is near. Often, in my West Virginia little bulb garden, Iris Danfordiae is the first to proclaim the joyful news of spring. This rich-yellow elfin iris sometimes appears as early as … Read more
Spring-flowering bulbs you plant this fall burst into bloom next spring because food needed for flower development is contained in the bulbs at the time you plant them. For flowers in the second and succeeding springs, you must see at planting time that the soil contains nutrients that the plants can use to replenish the … Read more
Since they were first introduced, tulips have been singled out as spring guests that should linger longer. Tulip Festival The tulip festival usually lasts from early April until late May, but through the work of plant explorers and hybridizes, earlier and later varieties have come forth. It is now possible to have tulips at the … Read more
One of the trends in gardening is to do more and more planting in autumn. For many gardeners who habitually bite off more than they can chew in the springtime, fall planting is a lifesaver. The transplanting and dividing you can do, and the new plants you can put in now, will save that much … Read more