Can we grow food on the Moon or Mars? That was the question that started Dr Wieger Wamelink, ecologist and exobiologist at the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands, on a research quest in 2013.
04.08.2023 - 16:11 / gardenerspath.com / Nan Schiller
How to Naturalize Spring Flower Bulbs in the Landscape
Naturalistic landscapes are my favorites. I’m more at home in a wildflower meadow than on a manicured lawn bordered by topiary-pruned boxwoods and well-behaved rose bushes.
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Give me a woodsy setting with drifts of bluebells and tulips frolicking beneath the trees any day. I like randomness and surprises, as if Mother Nature scattered flowers with reckless abandon.
Instead of fitting plants into beds and borders, this article focuses on naturalizing flowering bulbs to create ever-increasing expanses of seasonal color in the home landscape.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
Ready? Get your garden planner out, because we’re about to begin!
The Naturalistic LandscapeWhen spring comes to a naturalistic setting, yellow winter aconite covers streambeds and works its way up hillsides, with nodding snowdrops pushing up alongside them.
Hillsides shade to violet as grape hyacinths pop up among the grass.
Sunny daffodils rise cheerily from beds of Siberian squill.
And some of my absolute favorites, checkered fritillaria, are a wonder of nature if ever there was one, with squares of contrasting colors adorning their petals.
The beauty is in the chaos – the riot of color renewing spring’s promise to return at winter’s end.
Best Bulbs for NaturalizingWinter aconite, snowdrops, grape hyacinths, daffodils, Siberian squill, and fritillaria are spring-flowering bulbs that readily naturalize.
Others are:
English Bluebells Crocuses Dwarf Woodland Irises Glory of the Snow Wood AnemonesUnder ideal conditions, naturalizing bulbs produce “offsets” that spread through the soil. In
Can we grow food on the Moon or Mars? That was the question that started Dr Wieger Wamelink, ecologist and exobiologist at the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands, on a research quest in 2013.
We’re not quite done with April showers – it’s raining. Spring is a bit behind schedule this year, but it is May and there are spring flowers!
Header image: Geoff Caddick/EPA
A new year is just around the corner and paint brands have already started announcing their colors of the year. Color, whether through paint or decor, is the simplest way to evoke a feeling in a room. These colors range from traditional to truly unexpected, setting the bar for just how creative we can be in our homes. Whether you're looking for tones that evoke tranquility and calm, or just want to spice things up with something unexpected, The Spruce has got you covered.
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Courtesy of Dutch Boy Paints
Plants such as holly, ivy, and mistletoe had been used in celebrations long before the advent of Christianity and the Christmas celebrations we know today. Evergreens were used to ward off evil spirits and celebrate new growth during the Winter Solstice Festival as early as ancient times.
Do you want to know how so many gardeners have continuous blooms of beautiful roses every season? Well, you might not know about this, but many gardeners use the technique called deadheading. It is a technique that keeps the roses healthy and a rich look to them. Let’s have a look at How To Deadhead Roses the right way!
If you are looking for a show stopping display of spring flowers then why not try planting  primary colours of Red, Blue and Yellow in the same bed.
Look out in other gardens for great bulbs to grow for next spring. This Grape Hyacinth called Muscari Azureum is a clear soft blue that is recommended for naturalising. Muscari Valerie Finnis is also blue whilst most of the other species and varieties flower in shades of purple. Muscari grow well in pots where the foliage can look interesting.
Dutch Iris or Iris reticulata are small bulbs for pots or rockeries. Flag Iris are big and blousy and grow from Rhizomes. These pictures of different Iris are grown from bulbs.
The cast in order of appearance: Cactus Dahlia; Rosa Rugosa; Lenten Rose Helleborus orientalis; Moth Orchid Phalaenopsis; Water Lily Nymphaea alba; etc.