Welcome to spring: the best little bulbs to plant for early blooming, from grape hyacinths to crocuses

For early spring beauty, think about planting little bulbs as summer draws to an end. Snowdrops and crocus are two examples of tiny, colorful plants that do well in groups.When the summer garden draws to an end, it's time to consider spring flowers, and planting bulbs now would be the greatest way to get started. We are all familiar with the popular, vibrant, and ever-present signs of spring, tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. However, there is a class of less well-known beauties known as minor bulbs that might not receive as much attention. This is unfortunate since small bulbs can offer the first color bursts just when our souls need them.Undoubtedly, the moniker "minor bulb" comes from its small rather than its significance in the garden. Despite being easy to plant because the majority have a diameter of less than an inch, they have a significant impact. They can be planted in big groups beneath trees and bushes or directly in the lawn, where their foliage typically fades down shortly before mowing season begins. They also have a tendency to "naturalize," or multiply, every year.

To kick off the celebration early, you might even interplant little bulbs like tulips and daffodils.The crocus (Crocus spp.), which has flowers in shades of white, cream, purple, lavender, orange, or yellow over 2- to 5-inch-tall stalks and grassy foliage, is arguably the most well-known of the minor bulbs. With only 3-6 inches of height, winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) is another ground-hugger. As you wait for the arrival of spring, its glossy, upward-facing, yellow buttercup blossoms will release a rainbow of color across bare earth or a dormant lawn. It works well in rock gardens as well.