Brian Minter: Take stock before planning fall bulb purchases

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Each fall we plant the promise of spring. We look forward to the beauty and diversity of spring flowering bulbs and fortunately, with the versatility of these little gems, we can do some strategic planning and incorporate them into even the smallest space garden. Instead of planting them just on their own we need to combine them with other plants to enhance their effect in our gardens.

Learning the art of creating winning combinations is one of gardening’s greatest opportunities, and one of the most rewarding. A few years ago I was lucky to spend some time with Adrian Bloom, one of Britain’s most well-known garden personalities. I took him to see Van Dusen Gardens. As we quickly walked through, he would frequently stop, look at a plant, and ponder how to best enhance the look and beauty of the plant and extend its performance period.

So before you buy any bulbs, make a list of the areas in your garden that could use a little help with four to five months of spring flowering bulb colour.

Low growing shrubs like spreading junipers, winter heather, dwarf rhododendrons, azaleas and even roses could all use a lift. February blooming crocus planted in colour blocks or as a mix of all five colours would work well under all of them. I like to use the early blooming Tete a Tete miniature daffodils, especially around roses, for contrast when the new dark green rose foliage appears. Early blooming rhodos like Christmas Cheer, PJM, and Snow Lady would all benefit from a little colour added around the base.

Winter flowering heathers, in all their shades of pinks