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Naturalizing the Spring Bulbs

Few things are lovelier than a naturalistic planting of bulbs. All the members of the narcissus family and many of the smaller bulbs, such as snowdrops and crocuses, seem much more at home when planted through meadows and orchards and along woodland paths than when grouped in formal gardens. It is important that the bulbs when first planted should be spaced well apart, in order that, as they develop, they may not become overcrowded. Bulbs of narcissus which have been naturalized in meadows and woodlands have been known to flourish undisturbed for twenty years.

In planting under trees it must be remembered that some trees offer more congenial conditions for bulbs than others. Oaks are particularly good. They come into leaf late, letting in the early spring sunshine, and they have comparatively few--though very large--roots which strike deep into the soil, leaving large spaces in which bulbs can be naturalized. Cherries and hornbeams are also good. Maples and elms are poor hosts, as they are ravenous feeders and the ground beneath them becomes like hardpan, making a poor abiding place for bulbs.

It is rather difficult to naturalize bulbs successfully on lawns, for it is essential that their foliage be left to ripen before it is cut down. Crocuses and snowdrops are about the only ones that are satisfactory for lawn planting, as it is usually necessary to mow one's lawn long before the leaves of any of the daffodils have ripened.

Choice of Material and Location The following suggestions may help the inexperienced to put the right thing in the right place.

For planting under trees use: snowdrops, glory-of-the-snow, crocuses, squills, winter aconites, grape hyacinths.

For planting in more open places use: all the small bulbs listed above, also narcissus (trumpet varieties) Golden Spur, Emperor, P. R. Barr, Mme. de Graaff; narcissus (of the Incomparabilis group) Autocrat, Sir Watkin, Will Scarlet; narcissus (of the Barri group) Conspicuus, Firebrand, Sea Gull; narcissus (of the Leedsi group) Mrs. Langtry, Queen of the North, White Lady; also Species tulips kaufmanniana and clusiana.

For planting in moist meadows and low spots on lawns use: the Barri narcissus Conspicuus and the Leedsi narcissus White Lady.