After enjoying my cutting garden this past summer, I was reluctant to put it to bed. Not wanting to say goodbye, I realized that I didn’t need to wait until next summer to start a flower garden. Through the winter I could anticipate another cutting garden by planting bulbs for next spring. I was thrilled with this idea and had high hopes of spending hours going through bulb catalogs to make my selections and having them arrive at my front door, but to my chagrin I never found the time. So I did something even better: I went shopping for bulbs at my local gardening centers instead. It was so exciting to pick up each bulb and picture it in my spring garden—just like selecting all of those seeds for my summer cutting garden—I was like a kid in a candy store not knowing which one to choose and wanting them all.

By the time I had my selection, it was very late in the season to be planting bulbs. But I was assured not too late. Just as with the seeds, I held each bulb in my hand and admired its unique upside down teardrop shape, its soft, brown papery skin, and its delicate fleshy body. After examining each one, I dug some holes and marked each group with a silver sign so I would remember what was where. And as I planted each bulb, I thought about its long winter underground, and it reminded me of planting the Flight of Butterflies a few years ago, and how I dreamed of them all winter long hoping they were enduring the cold, snowy, winter better than I was.

This story continues underground. And though my schedule in the spring involves traveling for work, I will check at every opportunity to see what is blooming next. And I will wonder– what will surprise me and pop up first? Will it be snow drops or crocus? Will the narcissus outshine the tulips? (Though I’m not sure that’s possible.) A cutting garden of bulbs is a dream I’ve had for years and now with my bulbs safely in the ground I can look forward to a spring extravagance of color.

Share with me the bulbs you long to grow in your cutting garden or garden. What are the steps you are taking to make it happen? Are you as excited as I am to have the prospect of gorgeous early blooms to enjoy next spring?

Flower at the top of the post: Grape Hyacinth

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