Hidden Treasures
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday January 17, 2002
It is time to organise your next show of flowering spring bulbs.
So much of good gardening involves planning ahead and spring-flowering bulbs are no exception. Now is the time to start looking at bulb catalogs. Plan to buy late January and plant from February. Look for those charmers that enhance gardens so wonderfully in spring - jonquils, daffodils, tulips and hyacinths, bluebells and ixias among others. Choices are almost overwhelming, with at least 20,000 varieties of daffodils and jonquils (Narcissus species) alone.
In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a particularly handsome young guy. The mountain nymph, Echo, fell for him but, to her chagrin, he had fallen for his own reflection in a still pool. While he stared at his reflection she pined away until all that remained was her pathetic voice. As retribution for his lack of interest it is recorded that Hera turned him into a narcissus. Another version of the tale relates that he, too, pined away and when nymphs came to prepare his body for the funeral pyre, all they found was a narcissus beside the pool.
Whichever account you prefer, there is no doubt that these flowers look terrific by water. If you don't have a pond try a wide shallow bowl of water. There are fabulous terracotta ones around if you search. John Payne, a potter in the Southern Highlands town of Robertson, makes beauties (02) 4885 1371. Or you may prefer to do your own thing the way Edna Walling, Australia's most loved and respected garden designer, did, by making a container using the lid of a garbage bin as a mould for a dryish concrete mix. You can then give it a weathered look by painting with milk or yoghurt.
The flower of the Greek legend was the Pheasant Eye narcissus - Narcissus poeticus - a fragrant white flower with a reddish-amber centre that is apparently pollinated at night by moths. It is one of the latest daffodils to flower and a bloom of beautiful simplicity. Another favourite of mine is the dainty Hoop Petticoat daffodil - Narcissus bulbocodium - which, like most daffodils, is pollinated by bees. King Alfred, with its large golden trumpets, remains a universal favourite but gaining many enthusiasts are the so-called "pink" daffodils with trumpets of varying shades of apricot.
Jonquils tend mostly to flower earlier than daffodils and are particularly admired for their fragrance. Erlicheer is haunting, though its weak stems are easily damaged by wind. Mixed with clumping grasses gives it the support it needs.
To produce sturdy plants of all spring bulbs, ample sun is essential. Under deciduous trees that leaf out late is ideal. Crabapples and late magnolias meet this requirement well.
For harvesting blooms, pick early morning and place immediately in deep water. Those stems where the petals are just starting to open will last longest. Weekly doses of liquid fertiliser will benefit plants while they're blooming but this should be discontinued when foliage starts to yellow. At that point, photosynthesis has stopped but food reserves are being returned to the bulb for next year's flowering. At all costs, resist any temptation to cut off yellowing and tatty leaves. Otherwise expect no flowers the next year. For gardeners who cannot tolerate such messiness a solution lies in growing your bulbs in containers and, if desired, plunging these into the soil. The whole container can then be removed to an out-of-the-way spot for the foliage to die back naturally.
Containers are excellent for bulbs that require good drainage. Be sure to use prepared compost or commercial mixes and do not attempt to use soil dug from your garden because the drainage is usually inadequate for a container.
For spectacular effect you can place one layer of bulbs directly on top of a lower layer of bulbs, which should rest on a layer of gravel. The whole thing is then topped off with more gravel. Be prepared to discard the lot once flowering has finished because the bulbs will be unlikely to replenish themselves for next year.
The same technique is perfect for hyacinths which, grown indoors, will pervade rooms with a most delightful perfume. This year, purchase those ready-prepared from nurseries and florists but next year why not do your own thing? (Before planting them, place the bulbs in the refrigerator crisper for six to eight weeks to simulate the cool conditions required to initiate flowering.)
In the garden, as your bulbs die down, be sure to mark their spot to avoid mistakenly thrusting a fork or spade right through the developing clumps. A great advantage of growing spring-flowering bulbs is that you can leave them in situ and undisturbed for many years.
© 2002 Sydney Morning Herald
