Bulb lawn a welcome spectacle

Daffodils and Crocuses flower in the bulb garden at Dunedin Botanic Garden. Photo by Linda...
Daffodils and Crocuses flower in the bulb garden at Dunedin Botanic Garden. Photo by Linda Robertson.

Welcome splashes of spring colour punctuate the green bulb lawn just inside the Opoho Rd entrance to the Dunedin Botanic Garden Rock Garden.

Flowering lasts from late winter through spring, with even a small spattering in autumn.

The first bulbs were planted in 1992 - Narcissus Jack Snipe and three different Crocus species still reliably flower each spring.

Since then, various species have been planted with varied success.

Fritillaria meleagris struggles; perhaps the soil is a bit too heavy, as this plant is normally very easy to grow.

Crocus Snow Bunting is first up in mid-July, providing a sprinkling of white.

A drift of snowdrops, Galanthus S. Arnott was more recently planted and has flowered well this year.

Winter aconite, Eranthis hyemalis made its first butter-yellow appearance this winter and it should expand into a self-sown colony.

Narcissus Bambi and Jetfire are dependably bright in early spring with the later-flowering Jack Snipe and geranium drawing out the flowering season.

To further extend blooming, purple and white flowering Colchicum speciosum have been planted, flowering in autumn, with the leaves not appearing until the following spring.

A surplus of Cyclamen coum planted in the dry area under the mature Cedrus deodara produced only leaves this season, and should flower and set seed next spring.

Precision timing in cutting the grass while the bulbs are dormant is crucial.

Leaves must be allowed to die down completely in order to pass vital nutrients into the bulbs to aid with next year's flowering.

• Robyn Abernethy is the Rock, Water & Alpine Collection Curator at Dunedin Botanic Garden.

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