It's Time to Plants Bulbs for Spring

Just a reminder that now is the time to plant those bulbs that we love to see blooming in Spring. Pictured are several varieties of Alliums.

Allium Purple Sensation

Allium sphaerocephalon (drumsticks)

Allium Ivory Queen

Allium Giganteum and Christophii

Allium Giganteum

Alliums Gaining Garden Momentum

Allium chistophii

Allium giganteum flower head

One great plant whose time has truly come is our favorite of the onion family (Alliaceae), the Allium or ornamental onion. The last few years, but more significantly this year, has shown a dramatic increase in landscape architects, contractors and individual home owners choosing to plant alliums. Not surprising since they have proven to be spectacular attention getters when they bloom in late spring into early summer. I often explain in my bulb talks how they fill a need for color in the garden from May to June, when the early spring bloomers are finished and the summer bloomers have barely started. The individual strength and stature of the taller varieties is amazing. Four foot tall plants that can take a 30-40 mph wind and not break in half. They have proven their value since some of the more hybridized varieties can be a little pricey. Perhaps because of their ability to return year after year with equal vigor, not to mention their ability to perform even after the flower has dried. One Garden Center even had someone go out and spray paint the dried flower heads, causing quite a stir. Everyone wanted to know what those brightly colored flowers were. Here are a few pictures from my garden of allium christophii and giganteum.

giganteum and christophii

A visit to Northwind Perennial Farm

I stopped by one of my favorite places to visit last Friday, Northwind Perennial Farm. If you've never been to this unique location in Burlington Wisconsin, it's well worth the trip. Their plant selection although eclectic, is definitely designed to fit Roy Diblik's "Know Maintenance" style of gardening. One thing I loved about my visit was seeing all the Allium 'summer beauty' starting to bloom. Roy uses this great plant a lot due to it's bloom time, hardiness and compact clump forming habit. I also was able to take a picture of Allium pulchellum (bottom photo). Friday being July 16th you get a great idea of when these allium are blooming in the garden. I point out the importance of allium in bloom time whenever I talk about allium's.

Allium 'Purple Sensation'

It's now time for Allium to start popping up all over. My 'purple sensation' are in full bloom, while 'globemaster', 'giganteum', 'christophii' and 'shubertii' (my wife's favorite) still have a week or two to go. When I speak at garden centers I like to point out how allium fill such a void for color in the garden, the spring bloomers are almost all done and the summer blooms have not yet begun. These pictures I took in spring 2008, at Winter Greenhouse in Winter, Wisconsin. They were everywhere! Definitely worth the trip if your going that way, or even if your not.

On Sept. 18, I will be speaking at Shady Acres Nursery in New Berlin WI., and I will be focusing on allium, all of the above mentioned and a whole lot more. If your anywhere near Shady Acres this weekend, check out the leucojum in their gardens, they are huge.