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Your Garden
The Premier
Gardeners
Guide
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First Flowers
of Spring Gardens
One of the most thrilling sights for any gardener, from the newest to
the most experienced, is the first spring flowers peeking up through
the last snow of winter. Spring flowers have long been seen
as a
sign of new life, and gardeners certainly enjoy seeing these beautiful
harbingers of warmer weather.
Whether it is the tiny, delicate blossoms of the snowdrop, the delicate
petals of the aconite or the subtle beauty of the Irish reticulate, it
is hard to beat the beauty of spring flowers. These first
delicate blossoms of spring are a sign that the long days of winter are
finally over, and that it is time to look forward to warmer
weather. Even the most jaded gardeners continue to be excited
by
the sight of the earliest blossoms making their way through the last
snow of winter.
Snowdrop
The well named snowdrop is one of the most beloved, and most popular
types of flowers for early spring. These delicate blossoms
are
breathtaking to behold. The common snowdrop, scientific name
Galanthus nivalis, features small, delicate blossoms, while the giant
snowdrop, known to scientists as the Galanthus elwesil, features
striking large early spring blooms.
Iris Reticulate
The Iris reticulate is another favorite early spring bloom.
This
bulb is one of the most striking flowers in the world of gardening, and
it is highly prized for its beauty. The Iris reticulate
originally came from the high mountain areas of Western Asia, and it
does well in cold climates. The Iris reticulate does best in
a
well drained bed containing coarse sand or grit.
When caring for an Iris reticulate, it is important not to over water
the plant, since this can cause severe damage to the bulb.
This
plant comes in a wide variety of colors, ranging from a pale amethyst
to a deep, dark purple. In addition, the Iris reticulate has
been
thoroughly hybridized, and a wide variety of hybrid colors, including
solids, speckles, stripes and splotches are available as well.
More Spring Blooms
In addition to these somewhat common early spring blooms, there are
rarer varieties as well. One of the rarest of late winter and
early spring bulbs is the Adonis vernalis. The Adonis appears
to
be a delicate plant, but it is able to make its way through the snows
of late winter to provide a beautiful bloom in March. The
Adonis
has a beautiful yellow bloom, and it makes a wonderful companion to any
landscape. The Adonis can be used anywhere, but it makes a
particularly good addition to a winter rock garden.
No matter which types of late winter or early spring blooming flowers
you choose, you will be rewarded with beautiful color in your garden as
the last days of winter give way to the first days of spring.
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