Laurie Graham

Last fall we decided to put our garden plot to ‘bed’ by covering it with a huge sheet of plastic. We didn’t have black plastic so instead used clear, hoping it would still heat up enough to solarize the soil. We were hoping it would not only kill weed seeds but kill off the nematodes which live in the soil.

Enter early spring 2024. The last two weeks in February were so beautiful and perfect for early spring chores in the garden and yard. So we pulled the plastic off and were surprised that there weren’t more weeds underneath. There were a few but they pulled out easily.

Then I came upon what looked like bulb tops. Sure enough, in a few places where I had planted bulbs, some appeared and were trying their best to overcome being totally covered in plastic wrap.

This 12-by-20-foot vegetable garden spot was created when we moved in 10 years ago. After a few years, I thought I could make it a true English perennial border and began to plant accordingly, instead of planting tomatoes, okra and black-eyed peas. I started with several perennials in addition to rain lily bulbs, spider lily bulbs and some Sir Winston Churchill daffodil bulbs, add in a coral honeysuckle vine and what could be more appropriate for a lovely English flower bed!

But then it didn’t come off as I wanted and I was overwhelmed trying to design, plant and then maintain. So, back to vegetables it went.

I dug and found homes for the things I had planted, including the bulbs — or so I thought! This plot has transitioned, had compost added every year and even changed shape to look more ‘English border.’ But for the last few years, we’ve enjoyed eating what we grew instead of looking at pretty blooms.

However, I was surprised yesterday to find that some of the bulbs mistakenly got left behind but had survived being suffocated with plastic. There they were, coming up under the clear plastic and I could even tell what each of them were by their leaves. A few rain lilies, spider lilies and about three Sir Winston Churchill daffodils were carefully dug and put in other beds with similarly planted bulbs.

Bulbs are tough and resilient and never give up in their quest to surprise and please us with their perfect blooms. They require no care and as is witnessed, can even take neglect. They just keep multiplying and growing and blooming and are so worth planting in our gardens. They are the first surprises of spring and never disappoint.

Years ago, when we lived in Michigan, I worked in a shop that had a floral department. It was a joy working with all the beauty of nature. Every spring, the owner imported little bunches of daffodils from England that sat by the register and sold for $4 per bunch. They arrived still in early bud stage but once taken home, opened quickly and the blooms lasted several days. I probably spent my salary on those little daffodils and they quickly became my favorite flower and still are!

I have several varieties of daffodils, narcissus, rain lilies, and iris planted in beds in our yard here in Tyler and they are a feast for the eyes. However, when it comes to the garden plot, well, I guess I prefer tomatoes, okra and black-eyed peas on my dinner plate. Let’s just put those daffodils in a vase in the middle of the table, please.

If you don’t already have beautiful bulbs in your garden, the best place to find them is at the Smith County Master Gardener sale this fall called “From Bulbs to Blooms.”

This year’s sale will start Oct. 7 with online shopping and finish up with pickup day Oct. 19 at Pollard United Methodist Church, 3030 New Copeland Road, Tyler. Pick up your bulbs, and do a little more shopping. We’ll have our fantastic Garden Guide/2025 Calendars, more bulbs, educational materials, door prizes and a great lecture from Steve Wiesinger, “The Bulb Hunter” and owner of Southern Bulb Company.

For more information regarding “From Bulbs to Blooms” Sale and Conference, please visit our website at www.txmg.org/smith/events.