I’ve been spending a bit of quality time out in the garden this winter—primarily weeding and cutting things back, but also enjoying plants in their winter garb. One benefit of this strange non-winter we are having is that bulbs are already showing their pretty faces. I have winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) and common snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) in bloom already, and my hellebores (Helleborus x hybridus) are not far behind.
Above: Winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis)
Despite these early bloomers, I don’t have many bulbs over all in the garden yet, and if you are in the same boat, I hope you’ll take the pledge I’ve taken: I swear I’m going to get more of them planted this year! When I build beds, I prepare site and soil then add shrubs, trees, and perennials. I plant bulbs last, because I find it’s too easy to dig into them by mistake when I am planting something else. I’ve now got enough ground prepared that I no longer have an excuse.
Above: Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)
There’s nothing more lovely than spring bulbs blooming in a winter garden. Winter aconites and snowdrops are among the earliest, but crocuses, Siberian squill (Scillla siberica), and early daffodils are not far behind. Plan to make space for some of these early treasures. Bulb catalogs now arrive in spring, so you can order and plan where bulbs are to go in the garden while plants are up and growing. It’s also helpful to look at bulbs in the gardens of neighbors and friends for ideas and plants to try.
One of my favorite bulb sources is Brent & Becky’s, who grow bulbs over on the Western Shore in Gloucester, Virginia. (They have open houses, anyone up for a road trip?) In addition to a spring bulb catalog, they also have a summer bulb catalog with great cannas, dahlias, and other summer-blooming plants.
The snowdrops in my garden are the plane-Jane species, but I have been sorely tempted over the last few days by a fancier sort: Carolyn of Carolyn’s Shade Garden has been posting about rare snowdrops and the galanthophiles that prize them. The differences are subtle, but that’s to be expected for bulbs that bloom this early. I may have to add one or two of these treasures to the garden this season as part of my bulb build-up!
Eastern Shore Gardener 
Anticipating a move from a large property to a small in-town property, it is nice to be reminded that even the smallest of gardens can boast a large collection of plants and these sweet bulbs are examples. Makes me want to pull Elizabeth Lawrence’s Little Bulbs off my bookcase. Thank you for this post.
Hi Ellie! Plus even a tiny garden can host an enormous collection of snowdrops! Nice to hear from you!
Barbara
Barbara, Thanks so much for the link. I sell other unusual varieties of bulbs in the spring as growing plants: camassia, fritillaria, muscari, corydalis, crocus, etc. I find it is easier to plant them in the spring when you can see the holes where they need to go. Carolyn
Carolyn
I’m happy to provide the link! I had all of those bulbs in my last garden, in Pennsylvania, and plan to get them in this one down here eventually. I love the idea of buying in pots and planting in spring. In addition to being able to see where the holes should go, it also makes seeing plant combinations that much easier.
Barbara