FLOWERING BULBS ALSO OFFER PARADE OF COLOR

Much has been written about annuals and perennials for summer color, but summer's grand parade of color is also dependent upon summer flowering bulbs. Half a hundred genus of bulbous plants flower in the summer, with dahlias being the most popular followed by lilies, gladioluses and tuberous begonias.

Among lilies alone there are hundreds of varieties, with flowers held upright like cups, horizontally like trumpets, or hanging like bells on stems that range from less than a foot to several feet in height. The spectrum of color that has been brought through modern hybridizing is astonishing. Hues range from yellow to orange to red to purple, with many varieties spotted and striped.

If one makes a selection of early, mid-season and late varieties, lilies are available in the garden for four to six months. Since they require a minimum of work, they are high on my priority list. All the modern lilies will survive the winters outside and do not have to be dug.

Dahlias had their origin in Mexico, and of all the bulbs that flower in summer, they do the most to flatter the gardener's ego. They begin blooming in early summer and continue until frost cuts them down. Depending upon the variety, dahlias produce flowers as small as a quarter or as large as a dinner plate. There are some new dwarf varieties that start blooming almost as soon as they are planted.

A few years ago we visited a commercial dahlia farm in Portland, Oregon, where they cut thousands of blooms in many varieties each day.

Although lilies and dahlias have been longtime favorites in the garden and as cut flowers, the all-around champion in this category is the gladiolus. It has been a mainstay of the florist trade for many years. There are some 20,000 acres devoted to the raising of gladioluses commercially in the United States. One reason for their popularity is the fact that they come in every color of the rainbow, including blue.

The fourth of the big four of summer flowering bulbs is the tuberous begonia, widely popular like the other three, but for different reasons. Tuberous begonias bear flowers more varied and colorful than most summer flowering bulbs. Some resemble roses, others camellias, others carnations, and come in flower size up to 10 inches across in a sunset of colors from yellow, orange, pink and red to pure white. They can be kept in bloom longer than other flowering bulbs, and are shade tolerant plants.

There is nothing that graces shady spots like the colorful leaves of the caladium. There is nothing that gives a more cooling effect on a hot summer day than the large white leaves with green veins. Their outstanding foliage provides color with their tones of pink, red, green and white, for shady areas where flowers are scarce.

Like many of the summer bulbs they are not hardy and must be dug before frost. In recent years (getting tired of the digging process each year), I plant them in pots, and before frost take them into the basement and let them stay dormant until early spring when they are ready to awaken. However, they cannot go outside until it is really warm.

Modern cannas are a far cry from the old-fashioned ones with bright red flowers and coarse green leaves that used to be standard planting for old court houses. Because of their reliable blooming habits, they make excellent plants for the perennial border. An outstanding coral short one, Tropical Rose, which was an All-American winner last year, and grew in the SEMO display garden.

The intense fragrance of the tuberose makes this a favorite. Their white flower is also delicate, and there is a double variety. They like to be planted at least four inches deep where they will receive some sunshine.

Another exciting bulb is achimenes. There is a new rose series that has large flowering double blooms in both pink and blue. These are ideal for hanging baskets. They prefer bright light but not direct sun, and must have well drained soil. Allow to dry out after flowering and store bulb in a cool location over winter. Next spring they will be ready to perform again.

Several years ago a friend gave me some rain lilies, which like a dry, poor soil, she said, and we do have those requirements. However, these were potted and that is the way they have been left. In theory, following a rain, they flaunt delightful pink blooms.

In recent years the calla lily has been used more and more. It used to be they were only white, but now their colors are a soft pink and delicate yellow, lavender-red, violet red and rose red. Storage should be cooler than other bulbs, around 50 degrees.

Many of these tender bulbs are grown as summer-flowering plants, dug after the first light frost and stored in a cool place for their dormancy. An exception is the lycoris, often called magic lily or naked lily, because they remain in the ground once planted and appear in August on a bare stalk. The delicate lavender-pink bloom emerges alone after the foliage, which came up in the spring, has died and been removed.