Growing guide for Summer Hyacinth. According to Greek mythology a young boy named Hyacinth was killed with a discus while playing a game. A hyacinth sprang from his wound as he lay in the arms of the god Apollo, who was wailing in grief. Wild hyacinths have letter-like patterns on their petals, which look like the "A" in Greek which indicates the sound of wailing.
There are several species of Squill, but Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica) is probably the most commonly grown. It blooms in the spring along with Snowdrops, Tulips, Hyacinth and Crocus and often produces more than one 8 inch stem per bulbs, each with up to 6 start-shaped flowers...
Growing: Rain Lily (Fairy Lily)
Rain lilies earn their namesake from their habit of blooming several times a season, usually 3 or 4 days after it rains. They are a genus of a bulbous species belonging to the amaryllis family...
Growing: Peruvian Daffodil (Spider Flower, Basket Lily)
Plant bulbs outdoors in the spring or fall, 3 to 5 inches deep and spaced 12 to 15 inches apart. Gardeners in northern zones should plant bulbs outdoors in the spring when temperatures stay above 60ºF. Zones with shorter season may want to consider starting plants indoors. When the threat of fall frost is near, dig up bulbs and prepare them for winter storage...
Growing: Snowflake (Spring Snowflake/Summer Snowflake)
The Snowflake Flower is native to southern Europe, from the Pyrenées to Romania and western Russia. It is the only species currently classified in the genus Leucojum, which in Greek means, "white violet." All parts of a Snowflake Flower are poisonous if ingested...
The Snowdrop's native habitat is the eastern Mediterranean, southeastern Europe and Russia. Because they grow in late fall or early spring (depending on zone) they are often thought of as opportunists. By blooming early, they ensure themselves more moisture and less competition from other flowers for pollinators...
In most zones, bulbs can be planted to a depth of 4 to 5 inches. Colder zones may need to plant as deep as 8 inches and add mulch to protect the bulbs over winter. Remove the mulch in spring after frost danger has passed. Bulbs have a tendency to split into smaller bulbs (producing smaller flowers) the second year..
Bulbs generally available during the spring or fall. If you're buying bulbs in the fall, make sure you get them in the ground before it freezes so they have time to establish some roots. Plant bulbs from 6 to 9 inches deep (smaller bulbs slightly closer to the surface). They tend to be voracious eaters and will appreciate a little 5-10-5 fertilizer or wood ash worked into the soil around their clumps...
