Garden Tip 144:

Longer days and warmer temperatures awaken the spring flowering bulbs in the garden. As we scan the landscape for emerging daffodils, tulips and hyacinth it is important to remember that minor bulbs can play a major role in the spring garden as well.

Minor bulbs are small or miniature bulbs that have small or miniature flowers. These small bulbs, with their small flowers, are best planted in groups or drifts for overall affect. Planted in the fall, minor bulbs are carefree. They reliably return year after year and many will spread and naturalize as time goes by.

Muscari, Scilla, Pushkinia, Chionodoxa, and Galanthus are some of the bulbs included in this group, minor bulbs with some pretty big names!  Be on the lookout for these major ‘minor’ players in springtime gardens and get them on your to do list for the fall.