Finally, I’m all done with this year’s bulb planting. The last of them were 100 Glory-of-the-Snow (Chionodoxa forbesii) that I ordered as kind of an afterthought – after I was done with the Tulips, Daffodils, and Alliums.
The compulsion to buy the Chionodoxa came after I noticed a narrow strip of bare earth mixed with sand and gravel that lay along one side of the new driveway. Replanting grass on this strip where it lay between the pavers and the flowers of the Left Bank Bed seemed silly.
Instead, I planted some Red Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’), which I hope will work as a groundcover that doesn’t need mowing and can take a bit of foot traffic.
Still, something was missing. And then it came to me: Chionodoxa! The bulbs are pretty small and you only plant them about 4″ apart. The 100 I planted will make a blue stripe 12-16″ wide and about 10′ long.
In Chicago, Chionodoxa usually bloom on the early side of April. They’re under 6″ tall, rodent resistant, and naturalize readily. They’re similar to Squill (Scilla sibirica), but Chionodoxa flowers are bigger with a white eye and I like them better.
I first saw Chionodoxa at the Lurie Garden, as with many of the new plants I purchase for the first time. Last year I planted a few in the Sidewalk Border, but this planting may be more satisfying because the bulbs are not as scattered.
If only I had bought 200 instead of 100. That would have been just right.
gardeninacity 
Very good!
Thanks.
They will look beautiful, coming up through the thyme!
I hope so!
Lovely spring blue beauties as are all the little blue flowering bulbs.
It’s a good bulb, I like it better than the Scilla.
“If only” — the gardener’s refrain! I suspect the 100 bulbs will be quite the show and will be most welcome by everyone passing by.
Yes, but 200 bulbs would be twice the show.
More is always better.
Yes!
Oh, those blue beauties! Look forward to seeing them in bloom in your garden.
Me too!
A wonderful choice, and they multiply like crazy! They’ll be splendid peeking up through the creeping thyme (which should be a lovely splash of color along the drive when in bloom). Bet it feels good to have all the bulbs planted! My order just arrived a couple days ago, so it’s all still in front of me – oh my aching back, lol.
Get the ice packs ready! I hope they multiply, I’d like to see them in the lawn.
I never seem to order as many bulbs as I should… the chionodoxa will multiply but I’d rather see the full glorious blue in year 1!
So would I! I would love to have all that space at Glen Villa to fill with bulbs!
I think bulbs always look better planted in masses. They should put on quite a show!
The same is true of most perennials, I think.
Good plan in adding these to your garden! You should see the March Bank at Winterthur- breathtaking!!
I hope to – one of these days!
They’re really lovely. They bear a slight visual resemblance to our early spring bloomer, the ten-petal thimbleweed, or anemone (Anemone berlandieri).These are equally cute.
That’s an anemone I’m not familiar with.
That will look good. I love Thyme as an edging too. I did almost all my bulb planting the last two days and my wrists are aching!
My wrists are ok but my back and my knees are protesting.
A river of chionodoxa is a fabulous idea. I envy you having finished your bulb planting. It seems like an endless task to me.
I think you have more time to work with. We just had our first snow.
You and a sliver of open soil are a dangerous combination. I can’t wait to see how it all looks this spring, and it will only get better as the years pass!
I also envy you finishing your planting. Things are only just getting started here, but I haven’t added anything close to what you’ve already put in the ground.
I wonder if your seasons run much later than ours. We just got our first snowfall.
I find it rather incredible how many bulbs you need to make a good display – it’s always many more than I would have thought. I have a feeling you’ll get a nice display in this bit of soil.
It does take a lot of bulbs to have impact, especially with the small bulbs. I’m in favor of going big with bulbs.
Love these bulbs – they will multiply quickly in that sandy mixture – you will have plenty in another year or two with no effort on your part!
Something to look forward to!
Your spring garden will look even more beautiful than before. 🙂
Yes, 200 would have been better than 100, but if they indeed multiply quickly, the strip will soon look gorgeous. There are now many of us readers looking forward to your spring photos. 🙂
And I’m looking forward to taking them!
Yes, I too look forward to enjoying your display in spring … and I don’t have the agony of planting the bulbs! 😀
Those are beautiful bulbs! I look forward to seeing how they do along with the thyme. It should be very nice. You can look forward to planting a couple hundred more next year.
Good point!
I love the creeping Thyme and those bulbs will be so pretty popping through it.xxx
That’s the plan! I hope the Thyme is happy in that spot, just worried if there is quite enough sun.
Did you share that last picture when it was new? It looks familiar. They sure look sharp. I remember that.
Yes, that picture has been used more than once. I think it comes from last March or April.