Too often, I’ve been stingy, and perhaps overly optimistic in planting ten of a bulb when twenty-five are more appropriate, or twenty-five when a hundred or two would be best. Each spring I note that a larger planting of crocus, or of Winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis, below) is in order, but when late summer ordering comes along other necessities intervene, or I am enticed to try ten of something entirely different.

Despite these shortcomings, and a few disappointing patches, growth over a few decades has multiplied handfuls of narcissus, fritillaria, and snowdrops quite nicely. A small spot of Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa), in thin soil beneath shallow rooted maples, has transformed to a wide spreading carpet of blue. Curiously, seeds have spread up the slope as well as down to the damp, shaded areas where skunk cabbages flourish.

An unplanned mishmash of bulbs along the front walk has become a late winter delight, with Winter aconites and crocus interspersed within a patch of several varieties of vigorous snowdrops. In early April, fritillarias (below) join the crowd.

I take little credit for this success since each scattering of bulbs was planted with no recollection that the others existed. With top growth long gone and forgotten by early autumn planting, bulbs were planted side by side, somehow without disturbing the others.

Anemones (Anemone blanda, below) planted beneath Oakleaf hydrangeas in the side yard have survived deep shade and the aggressive spread of Robb’s euphorbia. In an instance of fortunate timing, in all but the mildest winters the euphorbia sheds its foliage to reveal the anemones’ blue flowers just before spring growth begins.

Grape hyacinths (Muscari armeniacum, below) are scattered through the garden, piggybacking along as shrubs were transplanted, I suppose.Though these colonize into dense clumps, I must make note to add more to this year’s bulb purchase.