After about 5 years or so any flower bed will need some TLC. Soils will get compacted and strangled with tree roots. And most perennials need periodic division for optimal performance. Even our bulbs benefit from division every now and then. Because I've had a little more free time lately, I've decided to dedicate this fall to revamping old flower beds.
This spot was once shaded by a large dogwood that sadly died last year. I remember it once growing an assortment of plants: echinacea, rain and schoolhouse lilies, and a clump of toad lilies. It had multi-seasonal interest, but over the years, as things tend to do, many plants died and an aggressive neighbor took over. In this particular case, the aggressor was southern shield fern, or Thelypteris kunthii. BE WARNED, it is beautiful but will overtake everything!
Although I love working in the yard, I often find any physical task like this hard to start. Just picking up the shovel can be half the battle! But it helps me to think of myself as a liberator- on a sort of survivor's mission to rescue plants that had been long forgotten or hidden. And once I started digging, I was amazed and energized by all the bulbs I found hiding underneath all those fern fronds.
After digging up the entire area and tossing the fibrous fern roots into the burn pile, I fluffed up the soil with my favorite shovel. And finally, I added a generous helping of organic fertilizer (Plant Tone).
In my newly refurbished bed, I knew I wanted more daffodils because frankly, you can't have enough daffodils! But I wanted to carefully select cultivars that are best suited for our climate. I came across a great video on YouTube by the Texas plantsman Greg Grant in which he goes through the best daffodils and other bulbs for the south. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5T4ExMXZDE Sadly many aren't available; however, he identifies many heirloom selections that can either be dug up on dirt roads or can be purchased online at bulb nurseries, like https://www.southernbulbs.com/
I selected 'February Gold' and the fragrant jonquil hybrid 'Sweetness'- both of which are mentioned in Greg's talk. For late summer-fall interest, I divided some of my yellow and white spider lilies. and I also threw in some rain lilies that I'd retrieved from the bed prior to digging. This combination should offer at least three seasons of flowers.
Though it was a small project, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next spring! It is a great joy to witness plants take hold and flower after you've planted or divided them. If it seems daunting, which it will, start small and I promise, you'll quickly get into a "groove" and will feel accomplished. Gardening is all about using nature to create beauty and sensory experiences. It's what keeps me endlessly fascinated and grounded.
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