Two Bulbs

Small Bulbs: I'm always surprised when cooler nights arrive and a mass of darling white flowers start appearing in the garden. Known as " rain flowers ", or Zephyranthes, these small bulbs burst into bloom and bright green grass-like foliage following summer rains and cooler weather. They maintain the bright foliage during fall, winter and spring. Each cluster will grow to about 1 foot wide and 1 foot high. They die back in summer and may be divided and replanted in fall ( or now ). They thrive in pots and add a tropical touch when planted along borders or amongst flowers. They are hardy to zero degrees and need water only during summer months. This is definitely a low care - low water use plant.

A starter pot of bulbs makes a wonderful holiday gift and when separated and replanted in the garden will grow rapidly.


Larger Bulbs - Paper Whites: Soon, tiny sprouts will push through the heavy layer of mulch in one of my garden beds. Just in time for the Holidays, they will be a mass of white flowers. Narcissus, another easy to grow bulb which seems to love the low desert! I refer to them as Mer's bulbs because the originals were first planted by my grandmother in her garden in 1932. Clones of these bulbs have been in all my gardens ever since I first dug up, separated and transplanted them from her beds. They thrived, multiplied, have been passed on to other family members and now are growing in many locales, from the beach to the low desert! They will continue to be an ongoing tribute and reminder of her.
Let the plants die back completely before removing yellowed foliage to ensure a good bloom the following year. Divide and separate as needed during that time.

Though I have successfully grown other bulbs and corms in the desert, only Zephyranthes and Narcissus seem to thrive here.