Trends in Bulb Gardening

As with fashion, floriculture also has its trends. Dutch botanist Jacqueline van der Kloet signals two color trends.

"First we see a tone-on-tone preference; combinations of the same color tone such as bright yellow combined with dark yellow." One of Jacqueline's favorite yellow combinations is: yellow Dahlias, Begonias, Buttercups, Chlidanthus and Callas.

The second color trend goes against the tone-on-tone trend, and involves a more daring use of multicolored species. "I see a variegated use of flowers that have more than one color. For instance: red and pink or lavender and blue. Species such as Ixia, Sparaxys, Tritonia and Leuco-coryne are summer bulbs that have two or more colors", Jacqueline says.

Professional flower arranger and author of the book: 'Flowers are almost forever' Libbey Oliver, also sees Lavish use of colors in the US. Rather than mixing the different colors, she sees grouping of colors and species. "You will see a combination of eucalyptus leave 'Optimism's in the middle surrounded by groups of yellow roses, red roses and lilies."

Tips from Jacqueline and Libbey

Finding the right summer bulbs for your garden is a matter of trying. Lesser is better so go for twenty bulbs of two or three species rather than two or three bulbs of twenty species. This will allow you to get familiar with all the characteristics of the species.

Create a special corner in your garden to plant cut flowers. It would be a waste to cut into a wonderful created border in your garden. Choose a sheltered spot: the warmer the spot the better they will grow. For more cut flower tips please go to our Cut Flower Corner.

Combine bulbs with grass and leaves such as eucalyptus. Use cut flowers in different stages as well as different parts of the flower. Think of exotic leaves or nice flower buds.