Spring Bulbs at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

Small bulbs such as grape hyacinths (Muscart) and scillas are often grown in rock gardens or used to make carpets of Spring bulbs color beneath taller plants. Because Spring bulbs-flowering bulbs die down in summer they can be used effectively with deciduous shrubs, which are bare of leaves when the bulbs are growing and flowering, or with herbaceous plants, most of which will hardly have started to grow so early in the year. Winter aconite (Eranthis), snowdrops, crocuses, scillas, chinodoxas, muscaris, and daffodils are all particularly recommended for this kind of two-tier planting, as they do not have to be lifted every year but can be left undisturbed for several years until they become overcrowded.

FOLIAGE COMES into its own in winter, along with shrubby plants that produce berries. These can be supplemented with winter-flowering bulbs in mild climates. Spring bulbs interest is mainly created by bulbs and biennials which burst into color from early to late Spring bulbs, and sometimes into early summer. Yellow is a favorite Spring bulbs color, either on its own with some fresh foliage or combined with white, cream and, perhaps, a hint of blue. For more of an impact, add a splash of yellow to a vibrant mixed planting of reds, blues and whites.

THESE CONTAINERS vary widely in shape and size and the types of plant that suit them. Large Tubs are ideal for shrubs as well as summer-flowering bedding plants and Spring bulbs-flowering bulbs. Urns are smaller and hold less compost. They are usually more decorative in character and so are perhaps best devoted to summer-flowering plants and displays of bulbs in Spring bulbs.