For decades, every time I saw Alliums in a gardening magazine I would say, “ Wow! I wish I had planted those! “ Repeatedly in the fall I forgot to include allium bulbs into my garden. I focused on the more well-known daffodils, tulips and crocus bulbs. This past fall, however I remenbered!
This past week as cold temperatures hit and the snow fell, it was easy to see the outline of daffodil clumps in my garden. Mine all have foliage at least 4 inches tall. With some, I can even see the hint of yellow through the last protective casing of the leaf. I worry. Does this mean no daffodil flowers this Spring?
Each season its fun to walk your garden and see which areas could use a little zing! Look for a ‘hole’ or empty space, anywhere that perennials might be too small to be seen or areas that look horrible because they are in the wrong sunlight or are being watered incorrectly. It’s easy to forget to add berries in the fall. Berries contribute beautifully to a more versatile garden. For us bird lovers it is a ‘must’ to have berries available for our feathered friends.
I am writing about early spring gardens now in early fall because for the next few months you can plant and later enjoy blooms in early spring. Before we get into actual plants, it is important to consider the different levels of “air space”. Plants discussed here belong on the lowest level on the garden floor .
Asters and Japanese Anemone are a treat for gardeners in late summer and fall. They don’t require much work and have striking reliable blooms.