Or, How I Fell in Love With My County Extension Office
So, for years, whenever we moved to a new area (we were diehard vagabonds) and I wanted to get the lowdown on what and how to garden, I was told to contact the local county extension office.
What is a County Extension Office?
Extension offices are departments located in local counties and universities staffed by university employees and volunteers who are experts in local crops, landscaping, soil, gardening, pests, and more. For example, are your tomatoes sporting weird looking spots on their skin? Call the extension office. Are the leaves of your peppers wilting and withering? Or are roses full of wispy webs? Yes, the extension office can help you.
In our area (Southwestern Virginia), the Extension office website is www.ext.vt.edu or you can call the Master Gardener Help desk at 540 776 7178. To find these offices in other areas or states, you can use this free resource from the Farmer’s Almanac.
Keep Digging to Get the Information You Want
Now, when we first moved to Southwestern Virginia I did check out the extension office website. Unlike other places we’ve lived in however, there did not seem to be the robust library of information and courses for the amateur gardener that I had become accustomed to in other locales. But recently I had a chance to attend a course about Minor Bulbs at our local library and have had my enthusiasm renewed. Let me share with you what I’ve learned.
Minor Bulbs for Your Garden
Minor bulbs are defined as those that are not common or well-known plants that have little or limited hybridization. Because of that, they tend to be less expensive. The plants introduced in this class were placed in the (fun) categories of Bells, Stars, and Firecrackers – the reason for that will be made clear below. Here is summary of part of the information provided in class:
| BELLS | STARS | FIRECRACKERS |
| Fairy Lantern (calochortus venustus) • 8-24” tall. • Unusual varied color as white-yellow/red-purple. • Full sun/part shade in a well drained location. • Plant in fall, blooms late spring, early summer. | Camassia (camassia cusickii) • 24-36” tall; native to North America. • Pale blue spikes. • Full sun/part shade that likes damp or moist locations. • Plant in fall, blooms late spring, early summer. | Jack in the Pulpit/ Lords & Ladies (arum italicum) • 10-12” tall. • Light green flowers in spring followed by red berries. • Full sun/part shade that likes damp or moist locations. • Plant in fall, blooms in spring. |
| Glory of the Snow (chionodoxa forbesii) • 5-10” tall; paired w/phlox. • Blue flowers, 5-10 per spike. • Full sun to light shade. • Plant in fall, blooms late winter very early spring. | Incorrectly known as Autumn Crocus (colchicum atumnale) • 4-6” tall; blooms & leaves toxic. • White to lavender pink. • Full sun to light shade. • Plant mid/late summer, blooms late summer early fall. | Firecracker plant (dichelostemma congestum) • 18-24” tall • Purple florets in dense ball shaped flower. • Full sun to light shade. • Plant in fall, blooms late spring, early summer. |
| Winter Aconite (eranthis hyemalis) • 1-2” flower, 2-8” tall; will self-sow. • Bright yellow; can be invasive. • Full sun to light shade. • Plant in fall, blooms early spring. | Starflower (ipheion uniflorum) • 2-3” tall; thrives on benign neglect. • White, star shaped flower. • Full sun to part shade. • Plant in late summer/ early fall, blooms late winter/early spring. | Foxtail Lilly (eremurus robustus) • 24-48” tall. • Soft pink flower spikes. • Full sun. • Plant in fall, blooms early to mid-summer. |
| Dog tooth Violet (erythronium dens-canis) • 2” blooms, 6-12” tall; native to North America. • Pink to lavender, pale green leaves w/ colorful mottling. • Light to medium shade. • Plant in fall, blooms mid-spring. | Striped Squill (puschkinia scilloides) • 6-8”tall; needs woodland/under bushes. • Bluish-white star shaped flowers. • Full sun to part shade • Plant in early fall, blooms early to mid-spring. | Crown Imperial (fritillaria imperialis) large • 2-4’ tall; requires alkaline soil. • Red to yellow whorls of bell shaped flowers, unusual attractive leaves. • Full sun to part shade. • Plant in early fall, blooms mid-spring. |
| Snakehead or Checkered Lily (fritillaria meleagris) dwarf • 12-15” tall; requires alkaline soil. • Bell shaped flower in carried colors, checkered pattern. • Full sun to light shade. • Plant early fall; blooms mid-spring. | Alpine Squill (scilla bifolia) • 3-6″ tall. • Blue, mauve, pink. • Full sun to part shade. • Plant in summer, blooms late winter to very early spring. |
Where to Find Minor Bulbs
Remember, minor bulbs are not common or well-known plants so you probably will not find them in local or regional garden centers or nurseries. And while no one nursery carries all the bulbs listed here, the following nurseries carry quite a few:
- Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, Gloucester, VA
www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com
877-661-2852 - K. van Bourgondien, Lawrenceburg, IN
www.dutchbulbs.com
800 552 9996 - Breck’s, Guilford, IN
www.brecks.com
513 354 1511 - John Scheepers, Inc, Bantam, CT
www.johnscheepers.com
860 567 0838 - White Flower Farm, Litchfield, CT
www.whiteflowerfarm.com
800 503 9624
Why Stars, Bells, and Firecrackers?
Oh, yes! The whole idea of Bells, Stars and Firecrackers is to add one of each category to your garden. And do know that for each of the plants identified above there or other or similar species that could be substituted and used. You can check that out with the nursery you use to order your bulbs.
Plant in Fall for a Spring Surprise!
So, your autumn planting of minor bulbs will net you a colorful spring surprise. Those winter months will be filled with relaxing and gazing at your garden while enjoying a adult winter beverage all with the anticipation of the burst of color that will greet you as the warm spring sunshine awakens your minor bulbs and you literally see the fruit of your autumn labor. Life happens on the patio, right?
Please Leave a Comment: Minor Bulbs
Leave a comment below and tell us if this information was of value to you or tell us what we missed and can add to this post. And tell us what minor bulbs you decided to plant — Bells, Stars, Firecrackers, or a mix of all of them. When they blossom, add a photo so we can see the beautiful fruits of your labor!
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