Little Spring Bulbs Make their Appearance

Spring has certainly sprung at Powell Gardens with the blooming of the early small bulbs. From crocus to snowdrops, winter aconite and dwarf iris; there is a rainbow of flower color hugging the ground. The best displays are located on the Island Garden and in the Rock & Waterfall Garden.


Early honeybees relish the bright golden flowers of Golden Bunch Crocus (Crocus flavus) on the Island Garden.

A clump of Gipsy Girl Crocus (Crocus chrysanthus) on the Island Garden is much paler yellow with purple stripes on the underside of the flowers. The Island Garden is out of reach of most squirrels so we can display a good variety of crocus there (Squirrels think crocus corms are little candy treats!)

"Tommy" Crocus (Crocus tommasinianus) show themselves in the Rock & Waterfall Garden. This garden is set in a native woodland and full of squirrels--Tommy crocus are resistant to squirrels.

A closer look at Tommy Crocus--this may be the cultivar 'Lilac Beauty' as we have planted mixes.

Snowdrops (Galanthus elwesii shown) are in full bloom on the Island Garden but the best displays are in the Rock & Waterfall Garden. This small bulb carpets many areas of the Rock & Waterfall Garden and each year we divide them out (just after bloom) to increase our plantings.

Winter Aconinte (Eranthis hyemalis shown) are also beginning to bloom. They have been self-sowing wherever planted. Best masses are along the upper walk in the Rock & Waterfall Garden.

Katherine Hodgkin Dwarf Iris (Iris histroides hybrid) is already in bloom on the Island Garden. There are many dwarf iris in colors from deep indigo to yellow that will soon be in bloom.

A view of Katherine Hodgkin Dwarf Iris from above: the aqua blue color of this cultivar is quite distinctive.

Some of the first "wildflowers" are also in bloom but they are very tiny! This is a little speedwell (Veronica sp.) in the buffalo grass on the Island Garden. Speedwell is considered a lawn weed but its flowers are such a treat for early spring

The Korean Azaleas (Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense) are in bloom in the Conservatory's Fragrance Display. This is a very good species of azalea for our climate and it has very nice, delicate fragrance.

Wednesdays high of 69F pushed many of the spring bulbs into flower and although cold is predicted for the weekend all the bulbs that have emerged are adapted to such setbacks. Over the next few weeks the early spring bulbs will delight visitors to the gardens. Come out and get a preview of spring!