You can easily naturalize flowering bulbs under the turf, creating bulb grass that will provide a stunning display every spring without further planting. Peggy Anne Montgomery, a horticulturist, will be with me this week to share the history of bulb lawns and how they are created.
Peggy Anne, originally from Minnesota, lived in Germany before moving to the Netherlands, where she studied horticulture and married a Dutchman. She spent 15 years in the Netherlands as a landscape designer for four years before starting her own business. She has worked as a garden writer, research horticulturist, and brand manager in the United States.
Peggy Anne loves studying in the Netherlands. They’re the pioneers of this industry. They are so good at everything. “They’re very creative.”
She returned to Minnesota to care for her mother and was hired by Bailey Nurseries in St. Paul. She says, “It is a huge wholesale nursery that has been family-owned for over a century.” “I love Bailey Family. We’re still very close, and I worked there for ten wonderful years. They gave me many opportunities to learn and grow, including marketing and travel with Garden Writers Association. I also met many people. “That was amazing.”
After a decade at Bailey Nurseries, Peggy Anne was looking for a new challenge. She got a job studying native plants in Mt. Cuba Center, Delaware, where she now lives. Mt. Washington is an “incredible place,” she says. Cuba Center. If you’ve never been to Cuba, I urge you to put it on your bucket list, particularly in the early spring. It’s unmatched — the beauty of spring trilliums, ephemerals, and all the other things. It’s breathtaking.”
Peggy Anne’s view on Mt. Cuba Center. It was a wonderful place to visit for an episode of “Growing A Greener World,” my public television show. The Brandywine Valley, Greater Philadelphia Area, and Mount Cuba Center are all in this area. It is called “America’s Garden Capital,” with over 50 public gardens spread out within 50 miles.
Peggy Anne declares, “You can’t make a mistake.” Each one is beautiful in its way.
Peggy Anne used her native plant knowledge to promote the American Beauties Native Plants by NorthCreek Nurseries owners Steve Castorani from Pennsylvania and Prides Corner Farms’ owner Mark Sellew from Connecticut.
The Garden Media Group currently employs her. This small, women-owned business specializes in public relations and marketing for horticulture. Peggy Anne said that it was founded by Suzi, who started marketing in the horticulture business. This was a scarce thing before Suzi. Suzi McCoy retired in the past, but Peggy Anne and Katie McCoy Dubow, Suzi’s granddaughter, continue to work at the company.
Peggy Anne only works with one Garden Media Group customer, Royal Anthos. Royal Anthos is a trade organization for Dutch bulbs growers and exporters.
She says, “Inspiring people and educating them about bulbs is so exciting. It is something I am passionate about.”This is my dream job, and I am doing the best work in life. I’m very fortunate.”
I will never forget visiting the garden of Peggy Anne, her husband Dan Benarcik, and the botanical garden Chanticleer in Wayne, Pennsylvania, to film an episode of ” Creating a Greener Planet.”
Before I continue with Peggy Anne’s conversation about creating a bulb garden, I want to remind you of my new book, ” The Vegetable Gardening Guide: Your Complete Guide to Growing an Edible Organic Garden from Seed to Harvest.” It is chock-full of further information and insider tips to help you improve your gardening skills and overcome challenges.
Organic Vegetable Gardening, my new Online Gardening Academy (TM) Premium Course, is scheduled for release in 2023. Register for the waitlist.
Bulb Lawns: A Long History
Although naturalizing bulbs on lawns has only recently gained popularity in the United States, it is a common practice around the world dating back centuries.
Peggy Anne explains how, in the mid-1600s, when plant hunters and explorers went to the East and brought Mediterranean and Far East flower bulbs back with them, growing these flower bulbs became a symbol of status.
Stinzen Gardens are the name gardens that grow these historic bulbs in Friesland. The word comes from the Friesian language and means “a stone or brick house.”
The wealthiest people only lived in stone and brick houses. There were flower gardens in front of their homes that would bloom early in the spring and in succession for several weeks.
Peggy Anne: “The most amazing part is that they are still all there.” “These bulbs have been multiplying for over 400 years.”
She says that in the spring, it looks as if it snowed pastel colors.
She adds: “Whatever they are called — bulb meadows, citizen gardens, or bulb lawns – it’s all a way to naturalize.” “Naturalize” means to use bulbs that multiply quickly and easily. Once you plant the bulbs, they’ll continue to grow.
A Gardener’s Guide to Easy Tasks for New and Old Gardeners
Peggy Anne points out that 18 million more gardeners have been introduced to the United States since the COVID outbreak began.
She says, “My job is to help everyone — especially new gardeners — succeed because we want these gardeners to stay.”
Bulb lawns are a good project for beginners because they’re low-cost and high-reward.
Peggy Anne explains, “There is nothing simpler.” You will plant this garden only once, and then you are done. It will never need to be weeded. “It will grow bigger and larger every year.”
Peggy Anne, her husband, and their children planted 1,200 bulbs within two and a quarter hours of the recording date. This shows that bulb planting takes more than a weekend.
Then, they marked off the area using a garden hose. Spray paint also works. A walkway separated The bulb lawn from the garden border for easy maintenance. They used an auger attached to a drill for quick holes to plant the bulbs.
Peggy Anne followed Dan’s drilling with a teaspoon of organic bulb fertilizer per hole and a few bulbs. She then backfilled the holes using the soil the auger had kicked up. She then topped the soil disturbed with grass seed. It is optional, but either annual or perennial rye will quickly germinate and cover any signs of disturbance.
The bulbs used were a mix of different but overlapping bloom times, including crocus (or crocus-like), dwarf irises (or woodland tulips), miniature daffodils (or miniature daffodils), glory-of the-snow and spring star. She also recommends Grecian windflowers, small alliums, and striped Squill (Puschkinia).
She says, “Your lawn has taken on a whole new dimension.” It makes you feel like spring has arrived early. Your neighbors will be amazed at what they see. It adds a whole new season to our gardens.”
