Editorial Sampler: Other Blends
Editorial Copy & Downloadable Images
Hokus Crocus BlendTuck crocus bulbs right under the grass this fall to set the stage for a delightful springtime spread of low-growing, early-blooming color. Colorblends' Hokus Crocus mix of purple, white and purple-white striped crocus varieties is especially pleasing and a very good value. Once planted in sunny sites where soil drains well, crocus can naturalize and multiply over time. "To plant into the lawn, a random effect looks best," says Tim Schipper of Colorblends, a Connecticut-based flower bulb wholesaler that sells direct to landcare professionals and home gardeners across the country. Here's how to do it, says Schipper: Use a shovel to slice into the grass. Flip back a patch of turf to create a hole. Tuck in several bulbs, press the grass flap back down with your foot to leave the lawn surface smooth, move on to plant more. This speedy technique is highly effective, he says, and the resulting spring blooms are fun and enduring. To encourage re-bloom the following spring, allow crocus foliage to mature after bloom for six to eight weeks before mowing. "After bloom," says Schipper, "flower bulbs recharge to fuel the next spring's blooms - the process is called photosynthesis and it takes place in the leaves. Waiting to mow is simple: crocuses bloom well before lawns need mowing and their slim, blade-like leaves look like grass anyway." For Colorblends Hokus Crocus three-color blend see colorblends.com or call 1-888-847-8637.
Woodland BlendColorblends' Woodland Blend is a delightful mix of early blooming flower bulbs suited to long-term residence in the shade of deciduous trees. All they need is well-drained soil and plenty of sunshine in spring. The mix features deer- and rodent-proof miniature yellow daffodils. The balance of the mix is made up mostly of bulbs that are typically avoided by foraging mammals, except the crocus which might be susceptible to deer and rodents. Colorblends is a wholesale resource for top-quality flower bulbs. The Connecticut-based firm sells direct to landscape professionals and home gardeners coast-to-coast. See Colorblends.com, under Woodland Bulbs, or call 1-888-847-8637.