Wednesday, April 14, 2010

ABC Wednesday - M for Muscari

ABC Wednesday: Click on the logo above to visit Mrs. Nesbitt's site.
You'll enjoy the post-of-the-week there. Then look for the same logo on her site to see who else is participating! :-)


Muscari are hardy little bulbs, growing and naturalizing generally in zones 3 - 9. They should be planted around 3" deep in rockgardens, beds, borders, under shrubs, and trees, and can be used for indoor forcing. There are a number of varieties available for purchase (and/or trade!). Just provide a little sunlight and drainage.

Muscari are also very sweet in the slow-growing grassy areas of your yard. This gives the blossoms time to fade before you have to mow the lawn.

I have four varieties that are (or have just been) blooming. Enjoy!


Muscari armeniacum (commonly called Grape Hyacinth)
They grow anywhere from 3 - 8" tall.

Azure Grape Hyacinth - Muscari azureum
I'm sorry that these are on their way out. They are beautifully frilly and grow to 5" tall.

Muscari 'Pink Sunrise' (Pink Grape hyacinth)
It's growing a little taller, about 6 - 7" tall, this year (second-year bulbs).

Muscari ' Valerie Finnis' (light blue hyacinth)
These are reported to grow to 7" tall.


M? Mighty Fine... Magnificent!


Nothing "shady" about these little flowers. In fact, they make a person feel absolutely "Melodic!"

:-) Happy Spring!




14 comments:

Rosemary said...

Magnificent!

Randy Emmitt said...

Shady,

Muscari in a lovely addition to any lawn. This year my Golden Fragrance bloomed, I don't think this is is a winner at $1.5 per bulb. We'll know in the coming years how it does, fading right now.

Rose said...

These are such sweet little blooms, Shady. I'm afraid I've been too interested in biggier, showier bulbs the last two years to have the patience to plant any muscari or crocus, for that matter. Thanks for reminding me that I really should add some this fall.

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

My Muscari are also in bloom. :)

VW said...

Muscari have taken over my dad's front garden - I think he wishes they'd just disappear. But they're happy there in the dry shade under an old pine tree, where almost everything else he plants disappears in a year or two (I call it the black hole).
Unlike Rose's comment above, I've been very interested in the little bulbs lately - mostly because I'm very tired of tattered tulip foliage in July (they're still around then in my garden!) and want smaller leaves dying back so I can camoflauge them better.

Anonymous said...

I've got plenty of the blues but methinks I need some of the PINK variety. Nice!

troutbirder said...

They are little sweeties. I scatter them randomly in the woods for a surprise each spring.

Sheila @ A Postcard a Day said...

I think muscari are one of my favourites though I could wish that they kept their foliage in check a little more.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Rosemary, Magnificent indeed. And You are Magnanimous. ;-)

Hi Randy, it will be interesting to find out if your variety holds up. My azure is not blooming as prolifically as it did last year.

Rose, sometimes the sweet little items are very endearing. I think you'd enjoy planting some. :-)

Hi Monica - and how are your Virginia Bluebells? I think it's interesting that they begin blooming when the plant is very small, and yet they continue blooming as the plant grows bigger!

VW, Are your father's trees very large? Pines often have a lot of dry space with little growing beneath them. I'm sure it's beautiful at this time of year, though.

Grace - You Definitely need some of the pink ones! :-)

troutbirder, that's a great idea! I've also enjoyed planting a daffodil here and there in the woods. (Nice surprise, too!)

Hi Sheila, If they get crowded, they quit blooming. I have a couple of clumps that need to be divided!! :-) (You could plant a few in the lawn...)

Roger Owen Green said...

I'm fond of the way these look, but alas, I grow nothing without killing it, so don't try

On behalf of the ABC Wednesday team, thank you!-Ramblin' with Roger

Shady Gardener said...

Thanks, Roger. (Give them to your wife!) ;-)

Rinkly Rimes said...

Your muscari are delightful and such a lovely colour!

Anonymous said...

Muscari is one of those overlook plants. The are quite lovely when placed appropriately. You have a wonderful range of colors.

Shady Gardener said...

Rinkly, I love your name. Thanks for visiting!

Chad and Brandi, Aren't they so cute? They really work everywhere - in front! ;-)