Summer Bulbs In Containers

Sandals off, feet up and basking in the warm summer sun – that’s how I like to spend my summers. When I’m surrounded by a garden filled with colour and fragrance, it’s even better. If you plant a variety of easy to grow summer flowering bulbs, this can be your summer too.

For gardeners with limited space, most summer bulbs do well in containers. That way they can sit on your patio, be moved to a welcoming arrangement at your door, or fill a gap in your garden beds. To give some wow to your containers, plant one type of bulb only, or mix them with summer annuals or vegetables.

The queen of the summer flowering bulbs must be lilies. They are very easy to grow, increase from year to year, and by using some of the new hybrids you can have lilies in flower all summer. Asiatic lilies open the lily season early to mid July with their colourful, upward or outward facing blooms. Blooms easily last 3 to 4 weeks. For an exotic splash, try “Cancun”, which is yellow with a wide red band around the lips, or Sphinx, a dark red double bloom.

Gardeners with limited space may wish to try Pixie lilies which are short, cute Asiatic lilies that are perfect for pots. Mix them with some colourful veggies like Darkness” lettuce or Little Prince eggplants, which will carry your container through the summer, and give you something to munch on too!

Soon after the Asiatics bloom, Oriental lilies begin flaunting their seductive perfume across your garden. Stargazers are the popular favourite, blooming late July and early August. Tiger lilies finish off the blooming season in August and September. They have fragrant and abundant blooms, are easy to grow, and bring an old fashioned refinement to the garden. All lilies like good drainage, either part or full sun, and are fully hardy to Zone 5 at least.

Dahlias are another standard in the garden, and although the tubers must be dug up each fall and stored somewhere dry and frost-free, they give a lot of bang for their buck. They bloom constantly from August till our first frost, usually in October. Dahlias come in all shapes, sizes and colours. Try some of the Dinner Plate dahlias if you like big and bold. A great one is “Bodacious”. Cactus dahlias have large, colourful starburst flowers that are stunning in flower arrangements. All dahlias do well in large containers. Try some of the new Bishop series dahlias in your containers too.

Cannas bring vivid, exotic flowers and bold, tropical foliage to your garden. They perform best when started inside now, and then moved outside when it’s warm. They are great in large containers (3 gallon size minimum), and can then be placed wherever you want a touch of the exotic. Combine them with other foliage plants and bright flowering annuals like Salvia, for a sizzling, tropical look.

Pineapple lily or Eucomis is another great and unusual summer bulb that blooms in July and August. They have broad, strappy leaves, with two foot, pink or white flower spires with a great little pineapple tuft on top. A pot of Eucomis in bloom will bring comments from all your visitors.

These are just a few of the many, great summer bulbs that are available. Come visit us at Art’s Nursery to see the selection, and to prepare for a lazy, laidback summer in your garden.

Helleborus

Helleborus are one of the most interesting Perennials found in the west coast gardens. After all, how many plants do you know that like to grow in shade and bloom in winter, or very early spring? They are highly valued by gardeners for their ability to brighten up the garden at the dreariest time of year.

In 2005, Hybrid Hellebores were named Perennial Plant of the Year. There is no doubt that their popularity is ever increasing.

Helleborus or Hellebores are native to parts of Europe and Western Asia and are members of the Ranunculaceae, or Buttercup family of plants. Many species are poisonous so they should be sited with care. They produce strikingly attractive, usually multi-coloured flowers that tend to nod or face downwards. Hellebores prefer shade or part shade and do well in moist, but well drained, humus-rich soil conditions

Hellebores have enjoyed a lot of popularity lately and as a result many new varieties are commonly available. Some of the most common types include:

Helleborus niger - Christmas Rose

This variety is known by its common name: Christmas RoseIts name comes from the fact that its pure white flowers appear in mid-winter, often right around Christmas. Leaves are deeply lobed and mid-green in colour. Regular moisture is required. This plant is hardy in zones 3-9

Helleborus orientalis - Lenten Rose

The Lenten Rose is the most common variety of Helleborus. It is clump forming with dense foliage. Extremely variable, hundreds of different strains, colour patterns and shades are available. White, green, pink, rose and purple are all common flower colours for this variety. H. orientalis blooms later in the season than the Christmas Rose. This evergreen is hardy in zones 6-10.

Helleborus foetidus - Stinking Hellebore
The stinking hellebore is a clump forming plant with dark green foliage and clusters of drooping pale green flowers edged in red that bloom in winter or early spring. Self-seeds readily. H. foetidus 'Wester Flisk' is a commonly available variety. Hardy in zones 6-10.

Helleborus argutifolius - Corsican Hellebore

This clump-forming hellebore offers large clusters of nodding, cup-shaped pale green flowers. One of the earliest to bloom, with flowers appearing in late winter or early spring. Of the helleborus, it is also the most sun and drought tolerant. Foliage is deep green and divided. Hardy in zones 6-9.

Double Helleborus

One of the most sought after types of Hellebores today are the double varieties. These types have two rows of flower petals. Many varieties and colours are available.

Hellebore Care

Caring for these plants is relatively easy. Remove the flower heads after the seeds drop. Add compost or manure as a top dress after flowering. Although many varieties are technically evergreen, their foliage can look rather ragged and tattered after the winter. Many gardeners prefer to prune off older leaves back to the ground in late winter so the blooms look their best. It is best to use gloves when working with Hellebores as their foliage can cause mild skin irritation in some people. This characteristic also works to keep deer away. Helleborus tend to resent being moved or divided so it is best to choose a site and leave them undisturbed. They can be divided in the Spring or Fall, but expect this plant to sulk for several years before it rebounds and flowers again.

Spring is Here!

Spring has now arrived. I am confident that this warm rain is leading us to sunny Spring days. Our gardens are thawing and beckoning us to plant fresh colour. Did you lose a plant? Take the opportunity to try something new. We are very lucky to live in this area and have an array of choices to plant.