Evening star., 1926-04-03
LANDSCAPE PLANNING
For the Home Owner
BY ROSE CREEIl. Landscape Architect

Although the early Spring bulb
must be planted in the Fall. we cannot
help thinking Of them at this time of
the year, when in spite of cold nights
they are already showing green above
the ground. Because they add a
month to its blooming season they
should be planted IL every garden.
sidered. Indeed, for such a garden
where space Is al a premium and
every flower must he carefully con.
siddered. Indeed for such garde n
they are particularly desirable a. once
established they require little or no
care. This is particularly true Of the
little bulbs which can lie used ~ q
ground cover.
There are certain rules that should
he followed in all bulb planting. Avoid
manure unless it is old and well rot
ted II viii injure the bulbs Substi.
fute instead AS fertilizer bone meal
Plant the bulbs deeper in li2ht.
sandy soil than in a dense clay. With
medium soil planting three times
their own depth is a: safe rule 1t is
easy to plant the small hltlbS in holes
made with pointed stick. but he sure
hat the hole is made about the proper
depth and that the hulh is firmly
pushed down to the bottom of Il. so
hat il rests on the soil beneath II
is better To plant bulbs when the
ground Is dry. as wet soil is apt to
injure them before their growth he
gins. Most of the smaller bulbs can
he naturalized in the grass with good
effect but do not plant them in the
center of lawn which must he close
" cut early In the year. for on no
account must the grass he cut until
their foliage has turned yellow. Snow
drop. CroCuses and scillas are the
best bulbs for the lawn. because their
foliage in the grass is inconspcuous
after the bloom has passed.
Earliest of all to bloom. the snow
drop tGalanthus) often iustifies its
name by appearing while the snow is
still on the ground in scattered
patches. The giant snowdrop. which
stands about 10 inches high. cannot
he easily procured. but the common
snowdrop Galanthus niValiSl can he
bought from any bulb man. II will
thrive in the shade. and is therefore
excellent for planting in colonies un.
der a large tree.
Almost as early as the snowdrop
and quite as effective in flower are
the croCuses. which can he bought in
mixed Colors or separately in yellow.
lavender. blue or white. They arc
most picturesque when scattered in.
formally through the grass. as one so
often sees them. Amateur gardeners
often complain that Of the hundreds
Of bulbs that they plant in this way
only a small percentage come up.
This may be due to the bulbs. hut It
Is more apt to be the fault Of the
planter in disregardinc one of the
rules given before. And sometimes
when the bulb is properly planted it
Is unable to push its way up through
the thick turf of an old lawn that may
have been replaced above it. This
can be remedied if care is taken to
leave small hole in the turf just
over the bulb,
Blue is a favorite color among the
early Spring bulbs. IT begins with
the SCillaS. which come into bloom |
with The crocuses and through their
numerous varieties continue to bloom
when the CroCuSes are over. SCilla |
bifolia. which can be bought in white
and rose as well as in blue, Is the first
10 bloom. hut it's color is eClipsed by
the glorious deep blue of Sclla sibe |
rica Grown in masses at tho edge of |
the lawn. perhaps beneath the white |
blossoms of an early magnolia, Scilla !
siheriCa spreads out in sheets Of !
breath taking color. individually the |
plant is lovely with its arChinG stem
or inches long set with hanging
bells. but for its greatest beauty i. !
should he planted in mass.
The true blue Of Scilla siberca is
modified in other members of the fam
lily. Scilla nutans, the English wood |
hluebell, sometimes called the wood !
hyacinth, is taller growing. often over
foot tall, with lavender blue flowers, !
blooms in May. and is enchanting |
when it is thickly planted through I
the edges of a bit of open woodland.
To return TO the lower ground-cov- !
pr Spring bulbs. we find blooming !
with SCilla siberiCa a flower very like |
II. except that II raises it's face In
stead OF hanging its head. This is the |
glory of the snow. ChionodoXa Lucil-
iae, with sky-blue flowers. white At
the heart. Grown with Scllas. the
ChionodoXa adds just the needed note
Of variety without sharp contrast
The grape hyacinths. Muscari
hotryoides. with tight blue flowers
closely packed on upright stems. make.
like SCila siberica. stunning masses
Of blue. A little taller and heavier in
appearance than Scilla siberica. they
are most effective when seen at a lii.
tle distance. Muscnti variety Of