Allium Fireworks

Day 293: Ornamental Alliums have pretty flowers. They do well to give height to a planting, and last longer than I'd expected. However, given the latest development, I'm of a mind to say the blooming phase is less interesting than the seed-producing phase! My front flower bed is putting on a display of Allium fireworks! I don't know that they will self-sow to produce more plants from those little black seeds, but the bulbs will make more by division, and as far as I'm concerned, they can take over the bed if they are inclined to do so.

Allium

Day 234: Like chives on steroids, the flowering heads of this Allium variety tower two to three feet or above ground level, opening as a ball almost six inches in diameter. I planted several colours last fall, and so far, only the purple ones have opened. Not all types will have the height these do, but if you want tall, showy colour in your flower bed, I'd give this one a big thumbs-up. Best of all, since they are members of the onion family, they're ignored by squirrels, moles, deer, elk and raccoons, common predators of tastier bulbs like tulips. Purportedly, Alliums naturalize readily, spreading by both division (bulblets) and by seed. For my money, they can bring it on!

Garden Colour

Day 226: Around Memorial Day, my flower beds are almost at their best. While other plants are yet to come, the blood-red peonies my father loved are in abundant bloom, as yet unspoiled by rain. The fence line sports a bold showing of Siberian iris, and the Barren Wasteland hosts a broad orange splash of Oriental poppies with a dot of blue cornflowers off to one side. The alliums are new this year, and so far, only the dark purple ones have opened, but their wands stand two to three feet high in the front bed, each capped with a three-inch diameter knob of flowers like chives on steroids. Bright colours, the brighter the better, have always appealed to me. Pastels have their place, but I prefer flamboyancy in my garden.