Bulbs provide colour and interest in a wide variety of situations.
The Complete Book of Bulbs & Bulb Gardening by Kathy Brown is a comprehensive directory for those who love bulbs and a practical guide to growing them.
It is essential that bulbs be located in a suitable position if they are to grow and flower well. The requirements of different species vary considerably. Some for example requiring full sun and others shade.
Careful consideration should be given to the placement of bulbs which look untidy at a certain stage.
Sometimes these can be located behind other plants, which will grow and conceal them at the appropriate time. The contribution made by bulb foliage is often overlooked.
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| Watsonias, Photo from Wikimedia.org |
Bulbs with sword like leaves contribute significantly to the overall texture of a garden, contrasting effectively with the bold or lacy foliage of many perennials.
The foliage and flowers of Watsonias (a member of the iris family) combine strikingly with the delicate silver of Artemisia “Powis Castle” or the boldness of Bergenias.
Watsonias can also be mixed with Agapanthus to cover a bank or difficult steep area, providing months of colour with very little maintenance.
Such combinations are also weed suppressing leaving more time for the garden’s more pleasant tasks.
Many summer flowering bulbs are suitable for cottage gardens and perennial borders. Dahlia species and cultivars will provide an abundance of colour from summer until autumn.
Lilies are also great companions for perennials and shrubs. Species such as Lilium formosanum contribute both height and late season colour to the garden.
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| Alstroemeria cultivar, Walter Fleming |
Some Alstroemeria cultivars are also good subjects for perennial borders . The long flowering hybrid “Walter Fleming” being outstanding.
Bulbs can also be grown in containers. Versatility is the great advantage of growing bulbs in containers.
The plants can be paraded in a prominent position when in flower and placed elsewhere at other times of the year.
Glenda Willims is a member of the Tamborine Mountain Garden Club.
The Complete Book of Bulbs & Bulb Gardening by Kathy Brown is available through Amazon.