Garden Tip 76:

Crocus, snowdrops, grape hyacinth and scilla announce the awakening of the spring garden. These are some of the minor bulbs, small early flowering bulbs that tolerate cold and are easy to grow. The time to enjoy minor bulbs is now, the time to plant them is in the fall. Make a notation on your garden calendar for October and November if you want to add them to your landscape or plant some more.

Minor bulbs can make a major statement when planted in groups or drifts and left to spread and naturalize on their own. I make sure to have some planted where they are visible from indoors. Seeing them on a cold and rainy spring day assures me that better weather is soon to come!