'Tête à Tête' are
delightful miniature daffodils that will brighten even the dullest spring days.
Just six inches tall, 'Tête à Tête' bears an abundance of short-stemmed
dangling flowers with golden-yellow outer petals that curl back to highlight
deeper-yellow trumpets. The radiant
yellow flowers are produced freely and are perfect for patio pots, window
boxes, rock gardens and borders, or for naturalizing in grassy areas. This
beautiful little daffodil carries up to three flowers per stem. The neat clusters of yellow trumpets make
dainty cut flowers. Also try Rip Van Winkle, a miniature daffodil with spiky
double golden flowers. It's been around for over 120 years!
In Holland, the
cobalt blue spikes of grape hyacinths are as well known as the daffodils and
tulips they bloom with. The long lasting flowers and long bloom season make the
brilliant blue grape hyacinth (Muscari) a champ in the garden. Mass plantings
are spectacular, especially when combined with other bulbs like the 'Tête à
Tête' daffodil. Count on these long-lasting cobalt blue flowers to lift
cabin-fevered spirits. Muscari also
excels as “the lower tier” of color in double-decker plantings with taller
yellow daffodils or tulips or any color. Muscari will naturalize easily in the
lawn or garden, and at four to eight-inches tall, grape hyacinth flowers make a
lovely addition to pots, rock gardens, and of course tiny bouquets.
Grecian
windflowers (Anemone) are low-growing early bloomers with long-lasting
daisy-like flowers above a carpet of ferny foliage. They come in white, pink or purplish-blue.
Plant windflowers in single color blocks for waves of unbroken color, or select
mixed color packages for a crazy quilt look. Try them en masse for a fabulous
groundcover either on their own or under taller bulbs or emerging
perennials. They will twinkle anywhere
they are planted, brightening the dreary days of early spring.
The delicate yet
jaunty Narcissus 'Hawera ' is so special, that the experts jumped categories to
include it in the “Best of the Best Special Bulbs” collection, according to the
U.S. Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center. As tough as it is dainty, this
little daffodil is great in containers, beds and naturalized settings. At only eight inches tall, this tiny
lemon-yellow daffodil makes up for its size by producing six to eight flowers
on each stem. 'Hawera' will last for
years in a sunny spot, gracing the early spring days with gorgeous color.
The adorably
named Puschkinia (striped squill) is a six-inch tall beauty with white flowers
striped with shadings of grayish-blue was first discovered in the West Asia and
the Caucasus in 1808 and has been cultivated in Holland ever since. It blooms
early and for long periods of time. One of the few bulbs completely at home in
partial shade, it is a great choice for planting under trees and shrubs. Puschkinia's bell shaped flowers will multiply
freely, filling small flower beds in just a few short years. The unique bluish-white color makes it a
lovely addition to just about any garden setting.
The snowdrop is
one of spring’s first sentinels, sometimes blooming right through the snow. The
10-inch stems of snowdrops are topped by dainty, nodding white flowers with a
green spot at the tip of each petal. They flower so early that
snowdrops-in-the-grass can easily be left to die back for six weeks (the time
needed for most bulbs to recharge their stored energy to bloom again the
following year). Plant these in rock gardens, gardens, under shrubs and in
sweeps across the lawn. They look best in clusters, as does Lady Jane, a
miniature tulip with the perfect combination of white and deep pink. Winter
Aconite, with its bright yellow flowers, blooms right through the snow.
Plant lots of
tiny flower bulbs this season, and treat yourself to oodles of finger-sized
faerie-flower spring bouquets.
