I have 4 pots on the deck, that in summer are filled with annuals, but in spring, they delight me with flowering bulbs. Two pots are themed in purple and white, and two are in pink and lavender. I've got them planted with petite daffodils, tulips, crocus, hyacinth and grape hyacinth.
The crocus are among the first flowers I see each year. (I actually see primroses before anything else. They can begin flowering in early February in our climate.) They can be up as early as late February. Being on the south side of the house, on the deck and in pots, they come up several weeks earlier than the bulbs planted in the yard.
Friday afternoon, I stopped in at the nursery near us and found bulbs marked down. Whoopee! My pots are full, and the flowers will return in spring, but I'm also working on a small patch in the yard -- bringing more spring color just outside one of the windows.
I bought some pink and white daffodils and some cream-colored snow crocus. The snow crocus are smaller than the giant crocus, but they come up about 3 weeks earlier -- a big bonus to me when I've got the winter blues and am dying to see some trace of spring.
I add to this little spot a bit each fall and again in spring. I'll be adding an hydrangea in the spring. I've got one in a spot in the yard that's a tad too hot and dry. Just behind these spring flowering bulbs will be perfect, I'm hoping.
It seems crazy, when I should be all over autumn, but I'm planning for spring. You know how it is, a gardener has to think ahead, sometimes way ahead. Are you planting any bulbs this fall for spring color?
