Spring is in the air, and that means it’s time to leave the cosy indoors and pay some attention to your garden. It’s amazing what a little bit of attention to the outdoors can do to make the outside of your house as appealing as it is inside. Not only do early spring blooming flowers add beauty, they can be helpful in attracting bees and other pollinators to your yard early in the season, which encourages them to make your garden a regular place to visit for them. When it comes to early flowering plants, most people think of bulbs. There are a few early spring flower bulbs that can bloom even before the snow is gone. Early spring bulbs include:
Snowdrops are tiny plants (3 to 6 inches tall) that produce one small (1 inch or less), white flower, which hangs down off its stalk like a “drop” prior to opening. When the bloom opens, three outer petals arch out over three inner petals. The leaves are shaped like narrow blades, growing about 4 inches long. Snowdrops are perennial plants that may multiply and spread over time.
Crested iris, is a low-growing, rapidly spreading plant that typically grows to 3-6” tall. It features pale blue, lilac or lavender iris flowers with gold crests on the falls. Flowers are borne on very short stems, often appearing nearly stemless.
Crocus :
Crocus is a genus of flowering plants in the iris family comprising 90 species of perennials growing from corms. Many are cultivated for their flowers appearing in autumn, winter, or spring. The spice saffron is obtained from the stigmas of Crocus sativus, an autumn-blooming species.
Wood Hyacinth, also known as English Bluebell and Spanish Bluebell, bulbs in the fall after the heat of summer has passed. Wood hyacinths will thrive in shade or part-sun in the South and will tolerate full sun in northerly climates.
Grape hyacinths are small spring-blooming bulbs, so named because of the tight little flower clusters that resemble grapes. Although the Muscari genus was previously categorized in the Liliaceae family (which also contains true hyacinths), it is now considered to be part of the Asparagaceae, or asparagus family.
Winter aconite bulbs carpets of bright yellow, buttercup-like flowers in late January and February surrounded by ruffs of fresh green leaves. Winter aconites originate from damp woodland and shady places in Eurasia so are perfect for naturalizing under deciduous shrubs and trees.
Snowflakes, also known as Spring Snowflakes, are a very early flowering bulb bearing clusters of tiny white bell shaped flowers with a green spot on each petal. The delightful flowers are prolific and very tolerant to most climates.
Snake’s head Fritillaria, also known as guinea hen flowers, are 12-15″ tall. The bulbs produce grassy foliage and one or more stems, each with a dangling flower. The flower petals can be creamy white, pink or burgundy and typically display a checkered pattern.