Spring Bulbs and Garden Inspiration Part II

Last week, I told you about a garden talk I attended at the Robert Mills Carriage House and Gardens in Columbia, SC. Jim Martin (The Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Director of Horticulture & Landscape) was the second presenter. He discussed using bulbs to create “special little moments” every day.

My love for horticulture started when I worked with annuals in a garden center. I spent my paycheck on fuel and all the flowering annuals I could fit on my parents’ back deck. Since then, 30-plus years have passed, and I am using primarily perennials in my landscape beds. Somewhere along the way, I had stopped “allowing” myself to consider using anything that might be short-lived. Perhaps this was because I was caring for my family and had little time to spend in the landscape. I am not sure exactly why, but I do know that horticultural interests can be ever evolving. Jim’s talk about creating “special little moments” every day inspired me to use plants I had left behind along my horticultural path.

Due to our warmer climate, many species will not perennialize here. Jim mentioned a few species to consider for creating these special little moments.

Luckily, the fun doesn’t end with these spring bulbs. Summer flowering bulbs can be planted after the fear of frost has passed in late spring, such as lilies, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, eucomis, and caladiums.

Somehow, over time, my love of creating these “special little moments” had disappeared. So, if you have become a little more like me, using long-lasting bulbs over showy, shorter-lived bulbs- I hope this inspires you to create “special little moments” for yourself.