Winter’s Elixir with Fall Bulbs

by Janet Johnson

Fall bulbs, in the ground or in a container will be one of the best gifts you can give yourself or a friend.

Fall bulbs are the bridge between the first frost of autumn and that little crocus that pops up through the snow. They are an easy way to add color to the spring landscape and they can provide a cheerful touch to your inside landscape all through the winter. We have a wide selection of bulbs available as well as gift sets of bulbs that would make a perfect “little something” for a friend or hostess. Stop on by and pick up some “winter elixir” to brighten the coming winter months!

-Megan

The Versatility of the Simple Bulb! So Many Options!

There are so many ways to enjoy the beauty of spring bulbs from winter to spring. When you plant bulbs in containers you have the opportunity to have mobile color in any room or space you choose. Your bulbs will need to be chilled for 10-16 weeks before they bloom. The best place is in a cool basement, a second fridge, under the hay in the barn or any place that will not freeze. They should be in a spot that is 35 to 40 degrees. There is something magical about planting a colorful pot or fun thrift store basket with bulbs that I know will give me joy when winter gets bleak. I use a potting mix from Country Gardens that drains well. (When I was a teenager I just dug up some garden soil for a planter of bulbs, my mom was not impressed when all those little bugs hatched in the house from the soil. Lesson learned, don’t bring outside soil inside if you don’t want all the critters that live in it to come inside also!) Below is an illustration from Country Gardens showing how you could layer the bulbs in a container for planting. Be creative, you can make them all the same, mix them up, or create a theme of color, size or textures.

One of our biggest challenges with gardening here in the Heber Valley is deer. They are super hungry in the spring, right when those tasty tulips of your’s are in bloom. Enjoy those gorgeous blooms without sharing them with the deer by container planting your most “delicious” bulbs. There are more tips on planting bulbs and deer in my post “Fall Bulbs Weekend”. Happy Planting!

-Janet