Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
PROBABLY I ENJOY MY WINDOW GARDENS MOST IN MARCH, when the last of the colorful, winter-forced Dutch tulips, scented daffodils and graceful Muscari bloom. Here is an intimate look at these Prima donnas of the indoor landscape:
Above, Tulipa ‘Burning Love’ (the name reminds me of the Elvis Presley song) receives center-stage on the broad sill in the Music Room. The flowers are redder-than-red, and they really sparkle when sunlight strikes them. Sturdy, 10-inch stems hold the flowers attractively upright. Do consider this one for planting indoors or out next autumn.
A nice companion for ‘Burning Love’ is the regal Tulipa ‘Queen of the Night’ (above), with deep purple, almost black blossoms. My only complaint with her majesty is the too-long stems. Without staking, the flowers tend to sway, and not too gracefully, either.
Adding fragrance to the window garden is Narcissus ‘Avalanche.’ This one flaunts gold-cupped, white-petaled burdens on towering 16-inch stems. Just a few open blossoms perfume the whole room. I used two pots of Avalanche to frame the red and purple tulips there.
Not fragrant at all, but a Victorian delight, is Narcissus ‘Thalia.’ I have it on the top shelf in the Music Room window. This popular old daffodil features ghostly-white trumpets of bloom on sturdy, 12-inch stems.
Scenting my parlor is Muscari, the common grape-hyacinth. Here, the clusters of soft-blue flowers display well in a shallow, blue and white china bowl filled with pebbles and water. The bowl is set on a round mahogany table in a west window. If you have any left-over muscari bulbs in your cold garage, try forcing them now in a pot of soil or a bowl of pebbles. You’d be surprised how quickly the flowers emerge.
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Related Posts:
How to Force Hardy Bulbs
Waiter! There’s a Hyacinth in My Glass!
Tip-Toe Through the (Species) Tulips
Scented Snowballs: Narcissus ‘Erlicheer’
How To Design A Window Garden
Seven Ways to Beautiful Houseplants
Erika says
Kevin, I have Queen of the Night tulips in an east window. They do bend and droop, but they are beautiful and welcome nonetheless!
I love your white and yellow Avalanche daff. I'll have to order that one in the fall.
Adele says
Nice shots of your flowering bulbs, with snow in the background. Thanks for sharing.
Alan says
Kevin, I really like your plants, and also the shelves in your window. Are the shelves glass or plexi? Where can I buy them? Are they expensive?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Alan – The shelves are glass, and they cost me no more than $10 each. Scroll up, and click “How to Design A Window Garden,” and also “Seven Ways to Beautiful Houseplants.” In these two posts you will more window-garden pictures and information regarding the shelves.
Alan says
Thanks, Kevin. I really like the look of your gardens!