October 2015 – A Bulb for Every Season – Hilary Thomas

After working in scientific research for a few years Hilary decided to pursue her lifelong passion for plants and make a career change. She studied horticulture at Capel Manor College followed by a course in garden design, becoming a full time lecturer there as well as the Head of the School of Garden Design. She has spent many years writing about garden plants and planting design. We were so pleased with her fist lecture for the Club that we asked her back to talk about bulbs.

Firstly – take care where you buy your bulbs. Avoid warm shops where the owners are thinking more of your comfort than the well-being of your bulbs! Order from reputable firms like Parkers, Sarah Ravens or the RHS on-line. Purchase firm and heavy bulbs and store them in a cool place before planting.

If you have sensitive skin, wear washing up gloves when handling bulbs like hyacinths as they release tiny, needle-shape crystals, which can irritate the skin. Dig deeper than you think you should, do not cut back the foliage after flowering – leave it to die back naturally for at least six weeks but dead-head. This way the energy will return to the bulb and give you better results in the following year. Lift and divide spring bulbs ‘in the green’ just after flowering.

Do take photographs of your garden at every season – this will help you plant where to plant your bulbs (which always look better planted in drifts).

Use terracotta pots for your bulbs, not plastic ones which are not porous. Mix John Innes No 3 – 2 parts to 1 part grit for success. You heard it here first!

Try planting bulbs in layers – ‘plant lasagne’ according to Sarah Raven. No comment!

Spring bulbs to look out for include Algerian iris, – plant at the base of a sunny wall – good for flower-arranging. Plant Cyclamen coum in the autumn in semi-shade and it self-seeds. Aconites are reliable with their sunny flowers and we cannot forget snowdrops – try the reliable galanthus atkinsii or elwesii. Don’t forget the bees – they love the lilac to deep purple crocus Tommasinianus. Also rightly popular is the iris reticulata named after the fibrous net that surrounds the bulb.

So many daffodils grace the Spring – where do we start? How about with our native daffodil – often called the “Lent Lily” as it blooms and dies away between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Jet Fire, Jenny, Tête-à-tête are all beautiful small narcissus to start off the Spring. Soak your Anemone blanda tubers before planting and they will reward you with lovely blue and white wind flowers in late March/April. Space does not permit me to list the many good varieties of daffodils but don’t forget the tulips – Queen of the night planted with China Pink in a drift is really stunning, Ballerina is scented like a primrose.

Irises and camassia will brighten up your late spring and alliums galore are perfect for the whole summer whether in pots or in your borders. I love Allium Christophii – take away the leaves for maximum effect, well-bake your Allium Schubertii in pots, grow your Allium nigrum alongside alchemical or astrantia.

Finally a good tip from our speaker. These days plant centres sell bulbs in flower so you could always buy a few pots every year and plant them exactly where there is a suitable space in your border!

So many bulbs and so little room in my brain to remember them all. Do come along to our Gardening Club meetings and hear for yourself the myriad of ideas you will glean from our knowledgeable speakers.

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