Been thinking of starting a bulb garden, we live in zone 4. Below is a list questions I'm trying to wrap my head around.
1. Know I want Hardy Bulbs (think anyway), want to plant the Bulbs this fall and divide every few years as needed. Not interested in digging them up in the fall to winter inside, etc.
2. Would like to have a mix that have blooms that come at different times. Is it possible to get blooms from May thru August give or take?
3. Deer and rabbit resistant would be helpful, maybe wishfull thinking!
4. Not planing on a raised bed, I could see maybe a mound or three after I experiment, planting more in rows to just learn and play. 12x30 give or take garden to start.
5. Have very well drained soil, think sand, was a corn field 40 years ago. Willing to admend the soil if it makes sense.
6. Good sources to buy Bulbs.
Open to thoughts and wisdom, maybe my grand idea is not so grand! 3 or 4 Bulb types that would be somewhat "easy" to start with to not get discouraged would be great if possible.
Below is list of Bulbs from our university that I found, from my understanding there are many varieties of the same name that have different characteristics. I'm sure others exist. Anything look good?
Hardy Bulbs for U.S.D.A. Cold Hardiness Zones 3 & 4
Scientific name
Common name
Allium aflatunense
Purple allium
Allium giganteum
Giant allium
Anemone blanda
Greek anemone
Chionodoxa luciliae
Glory of the snow
Crocus chrysanthus
Snow crocus
Colchicum autumnale
Autumn crocus
Erythronium spp.
Trout lily, dogtooth violet
Fritillaria spp.
Fritillaria, checkered lily
Galanthus nivalis
Common snowdrop
Hyacinthus orientalis
Hyacinth
Lilium lancifolium
Tiger lily
Muscari armeniacum
Grape hyacinth
Narcissus hybrids
Daffodil
Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica
Striped squill
Tulipa hybrids
Tulip
1. Know I want Hardy Bulbs (think anyway), want to plant the Bulbs this fall and divide every few years as needed. Not interested in digging them up in the fall to winter inside, etc.
2. Would like to have a mix that have blooms that come at different times. Is it possible to get blooms from May thru August give or take?
3. Deer and rabbit resistant would be helpful, maybe wishfull thinking!
4. Not planing on a raised bed, I could see maybe a mound or three after I experiment, planting more in rows to just learn and play. 12x30 give or take garden to start.
5. Have very well drained soil, think sand, was a corn field 40 years ago. Willing to admend the soil if it makes sense.
6. Good sources to buy Bulbs.
Open to thoughts and wisdom, maybe my grand idea is not so grand! 3 or 4 Bulb types that would be somewhat "easy" to start with to not get discouraged would be great if possible.
Below is list of Bulbs from our university that I found, from my understanding there are many varieties of the same name that have different characteristics. I'm sure others exist. Anything look good?
Hardy Bulbs for U.S.D.A. Cold Hardiness Zones 3 & 4
Scientific name
Common name
Allium aflatunense
Purple allium
Allium giganteum
Giant allium
Anemone blanda
Greek anemone
Chionodoxa luciliae
Glory of the snow
Crocus chrysanthus
Snow crocus
Colchicum autumnale
Autumn crocus
Erythronium spp.
Trout lily, dogtooth violet
Fritillaria spp.
Fritillaria, checkered lily
Galanthus nivalis
Common snowdrop
Hyacinthus orientalis
Hyacinth
Lilium lancifolium
Tiger lily
Muscari armeniacum
Grape hyacinth
Narcissus hybrids
Daffodil
Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica
Striped squill
Tulipa hybrids
Tulip