Bulbs to Plant in the Fall

Snowdrops

The earliest Spring garden flower, sometimes coming literally out of the snow as early as February; but usually blooming in March. The blossoms are small, white, bell-shaped, not in the least showy. Only one who has come upon them unexpectedly blooming in his garden knows the thrill of pleasure which they bring. As they are small and inexpensive, plant a number of bulbs about two inches apart, to cover an irregular circle. Once planted they take care of themselves.

Squills (Scilla)

Near the Snowdrops, plant in the same way, a dozen Siberian Squills. Beautiful blue flowers, which will bloom perhaps while some of the Snowdrops are in blossom. Once planted, do not disturb.

Grape Hyacinths (Muscari)

Little stalks of tiny tight blue bells, or white, somewhat the shape of tiny fairy-folks’ grapes. Everyone should have a dozen or so of these pretty early Spring-flowering bulbs.

Narcissus or Daffodils

Everybody knows a daffodil, for breathes there a human being with soul so dead as not to feel warmth of heart at the sunshine glow of its yellow petals?

But not everybody knows the difference between daffodils and jonquils and narcissus.

The fact is, they are all sold by dealers under the name Narcissus.

Every Narcissus has a “cup and saucer” form. In some, the cup, or trumpet, is tall; in some, it is short; in others, it is double: and according to the shape of the cup, each Narcissus is named.

All dealers agree that the type with the double cup is called daffodil. It is not generally thought so attractive as the single sorts.

The single sorts are of the following different varieties of Narcissus:

Narcissus— Giant Trumpet. Very showy, with large cups and saucers. Buy “Emperor,” and “Empress.” Medium Trumpet. (“Star” Narcissus.) Not so large nor attractive, but very graceful. Buy “Barii Conspicuus.” Poet’s Narcissus. Old-fashioned favorite. Charming fragrant white flowers, with cups edged with red. Buy “Poeticus” (Pheasant’s Eye) or “King Edward VII.” Very easily grown.

Jonquils are the small-flowering type of Narcissus. They are easily grown, and many have a charming fragrance.

Polyanthus Narcissus or Nosegay Daffodils are the little clustered kind grown indoors.

All these distinctions, and many others, are made by the dealers, but almost everyone of us thinks of all the yellow Narcissus as Daffodils. They grow so readily, with almost no care, that everyone, with only the tiniest garden, should plant at least a half dozen bulbs of the “Giant Emperor.”

Within a few years after planting, the Spring will bring dozens of blossoms of—

“Daffodown-dilly,

Come up to town,

In a green petticoat

And a gold gown.”

Hyacinths

Single sorts do better than double. As a rule, hyacinths do not improve from being kept in the ground all Winter; they may be taken up and stored in a cool cellar over Winter to be planted in the early Spring; but a better plan is to let the old bulbs gradually “run out,” and plant a few new bulbs each Fall. These are sent to dealers every Autumn from Holland, because the climate of Holland is nearly perfect for bulb growing. Sometimes hyacinths do quite well for a number of years kept in the ground out-of-doors.

Their charming fragrance, color and form, make them a most attractive flower. They come in white, pinks and purples.

Tulips

The most gorgeous of all Spring-flowering bulbs.

Tulips— Early Single. Grow about eight inches high; come in pinks, reds, yellows, white. Early Double. These are not so beautiful as the single varieties. Cottage Garden (May flowering). A tall variety, growing about eighteen inches high, blooming much later than the Early Single. Darwin. The most desirable of all tulips, but not very early. The tallest grow nearly thirty inches high. Globe-shaped flowers of most brilliant shades of reds, purples, pinks and white. If yellow is desired, buy one of the Cottage Garden, for there are no yellow Darwins. Parrot. Showy; of variegated shading and irregular petals. Not so artistic as single sorts, but very odd and interesting. Buy only a few bulbs.

While tulips are most effective if planted in groups or masses, an edging of the stiff blooms of the Early Single is delightful, especially if a red is alternated with a white. They look almost like “candles in bloom.”

Lilies

Lilies dislike sour soil, so sprinkle some lime over the ground before digging it deeply. A little powdered charcoal in each hole helps, too, and it is well to dust each bulb with flowers of sulphur to protect from worms and mildew.

Lilies love shade, and do best among other perennials because they will shade their roots, which spread out near the surface of the ground. By the way, since they spread near the surface, do not “cultivate” lilies. Do not disturb the bulbs, which will bloom for years if planted right in the first place. Most lilies bloom in Mid-summer.

Hardy Lilies— Plantain Lily (Funkia). The most easily grown, with spikes of blooms about eighteen inches high, in white, blue or lavender. Yellow Day Lily (Hemerocallis). Grows anywhere, sometimes killing out other flowers. Blooms on stems about thirty inches high. Madonna Lily (Candidum). Beautiful, stately, tall white lilies with delightful fragrance. They resemble “Easter Lilies.” Cover bulbs with only two inches of soil. Red Spotted Lily (Lilium Speciosum Rubrum). A tall Japanese lily, easily grown. Large white flowers dotted with red, borne on a tall stem. Tiger Lily (Tigrinum). Orange spotted with black. Very easily grown. {Lilies-of-the-Valley. Grown from “pips,” or tiny bulbs. Plant in the Spring in rich earth. They like some shade.

Iris (Flags)

Spanish Iris. Exquisite orchid-like blooms, in white and rich shades of blue, yellow, bronze.

German Iris. Very easily grown and very desirable.