This weekend promises to be beautiful weather for some final gardening chores. Guarantee yourself weeks of spring blooms by making “bulb lasagna.” Line the bottom of a 14″ or deeper container with gravel for drainage. Then layer potting soil and bulbs in 3 layers, starting with the largest bulbs on the bottom. Choose bulbs which will flower at different times to make your planting really work. Keep in mind that there will likely be some overlap in bloom times, so choose a color scheme that will be pleasing, such as monchromatic, contrasting, warm or cool colors.
Spring bulb bloom sequence (Boston area):
Iris reticulata ‘Gordon’ and yellow crocus
Mid-March
Dwarf Iris
Galanthus (Snowdrops)
Snow Crocus
Late March-Early April
Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow)
Kaufmanniana Tulips
Large Crocus
Eranthis (Winter Aconite)
Mid-to Late April
Narcissus ‘Sailboat’ and Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum)
Darwin Hybrid Tulips
Large-Flowered Hyacinths
Muscari (Grape Hyacinths)
Double Tulips
Lily Flowered Tulips
Single Early Tulips
Fritillaria (large and small)
Mid-season Daffodils
Triumph Tulips
Early to Mid-May
Bunch Flowered Tulips
Giant Allium
Scilla campanulata
(Wood Hyacinths)
Darwin Tulips
Flaming Parrot Tuli
Parrot Tulips
Viridiflora Tulips
Fringed Tulips
Peony Flowered Tulips
Mid to Late-May
Dutch Iris
Single Late Tulips Dutch Iris
Small Alliums
Madonna Lilies
Carolyn Edsell-Vetter
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