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Navigating the ups and Downs of Our Spring Bulb Inventory

plant selection & care seasonal & sustainable gardening

This morning, armed with a notepad and a steaming cup of tea, I entered our backyard to conduct our annual spring bulb inventory. 

Reflecting on last year's struggles, it was a season marred by the voracious appetites of voles, which decimated nearly all our tulip bulbs. Only three tulips had survived in the area where we had hoped for a vibrant display.

 

A Glimmer of Hope Amidst the Loss

Despite these setbacks last year, there was a glimmer of hope in our rose bed. Here, dozens of gorgeous 'Finola' tulips had thrived, painting a stunning picture. However, only three appeared this year, a disheartening and perplexing sight.

I didn’t plant any new tulip bulbs last fall because the damage had been so significant the previous spring. I wanted to see how it turned out for next winter, and I was checking the results now.

 

The Unexpected Visitor: A Vole in Action

Just the other day, I had caught a glimpse of one of the culprits: a vole scurrying between the stones of the dry well, darting back and forth to the lawn and this moment brought a nostalgic pang for our previous neighbor’s silver-grey cat, Aurora, whose presence had kept such pests at bay.

 

 

A Surprise Under the Plum Tree: Colors of Resilience

However, there was an excellent spring bulb show under the plum tree, right next to the dry well that had survived from voles’ appetite. And how it is cute! I have admired this combination of miniature daffodils (Narcissus) and hyacinths (Hyacinthus) for a week. Their size is a perfect match, and the colors are enchanting! We currently have six blue-purple ones, four pink ones, and one white hyacinth in flower. More to come after the next festive season!

A few years ago, I began saving withered Christmas hyacinths, storing them in a shed with consistent warmth throughout the year, and planting them once the soil thaws. 

I have been doing the same with tiny Easter daffodils that I buy in pots for indoor displays or to be planted in planters beside the front entrance each year. There starts to be plentiful of them in our garden. 

Our garden has very sandy soil, and these miniature ’Tete-a-Tete’ daffodils, (Narcissus ’Tete-a-Tete’), seem to thrive even though the normal-size daffodils can cope only for a couple of years, if even that.

 

Celebrating Spring's Vibrant Hues

I’m so pleased that I found this vole-proof combo, which is lovely, too! 

The hyacinths have formed a vibrant and refreshing color combination with the tiny daffodils: cheery yellow, bluish-purple, and fresh pink with a dash of white. 

  • A bright and vibrant shade of yellow evokes feelings of happiness and warmth.
  • A purple hue with hints of blue gives a cool and calming undertone.
  • A light and lively shade of pink is reminiscent of spring blooms and new beginnings.
  • White adds brightness and contrast to the overall color combination.

This small yet striking color triangle offers a reminder of the resilience and beauty of nature—even in the face of challenges.

 

 

Our Future Spring Bulb Strategy

With these experiences in mind, we've adjusted our bulb-planting strategy for the upcoming seasons. 

Our new focus will be on more resilient varieties: in addition to hyacinths and miniature daffodils, we’ll favor other small, hardy spring bulbs like Siberian squills (Scilla Siberica), striped squills (Puschkinia scilloides), glories-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa luciliae), and snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis). Bulbs that naturalize proficiently.

Because of their strong scent, the alliums were supposed to stay untouched by rodents like voles. Interestingly, while our resident vole has displaced some alliums, it hasn’t eaten them. I found a bunch of the under between the Saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia) and common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyny) hedge. This discovery has me grabbing my planting shovel to relocate the alliums from beneath the shrubs back to their intended spots.

As I wrap up our inventory, it’s clear that almost all tulips and most crocuses have vanished, victims of our uninvited garden guests.

As we look forward to another gardening season, we're reminded of the constant adaptations and surprises that garden management brings. Join me as I share more tales and tips from our garden adventures - take the Garden Style Quiz below for starters.

 

 

 

 

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