LADYBUG SAYS ... BULBS: AUTUMN REMAINS PERFECT TIME FOR PLANTING

So it was said by that old Scotsman, Bobby Burns.

And so it is today with the Ladybug.

We promised last week that today we would continue our discussion of chrysanthemums. 'Tis not to be. Precedence must be taken by bulbs, this being the perfect time for planting. The rest of the account about mums will come later. First things first.

There is a wide variety of bulbs to select from to be planted this fall to burst into color at the first sign of spring. The biggest problem with planting bulbs is selecting from the vast numbers of new and unusual, as well as the old favorites. They come in all sizes, shapes, colors and varieties.

Bulbs can be used in such a variety of ways and make a perfect touch for any landscape plan. Those of you who have been reading this column for a number of year, know that each year I say that bulbs are the best investment for your money in the garden. There is not much that you can do to keep from having a riot of color, if you follow the simple planting instructions.

Most bulbs prefer a good soil with good drainage and plenty of air circulation. Poor soil can be improved by mixing it thoroughly with peat or other organic matter.

All bulbs should be placed flat in the planting hole with the top point standing straight up. Avoid air pockets around the bulb. We always dig the hole a bit deeper and mix some bone meal in the bottom, then cover this with a little soil so the bulb will set firmly on the bottom. Pack the soil gently when filling, but make sure the top is firm to prevent washing. A light mulch can also be placed over the top of plantings. To start root growth and establish the root system, soak the soil immediately after planting.

As a rule of thumb, a bulb should be planted twice as deep as the height of the bulb itself. Large bulbs can be planted at intervals of five inches, smaller ones do well when planted four inches apart.

To keep your garden colorful from February until July, it is important to know which bulbs bloom when. Plant them to bloom in phases throughout your garden. For a naturalized effect, plant them in scattered plantings around trees and shrubs, down hillsides and wherever there is room. Bulbs also do well in planters, pots or window boxes and tubs.

For maximum beauty, group quantities of like colors and types. For instance, plant 15 red tulips together, next to a grouping of 10 hyacinths, bounded by a bed of 30 white crocus, for a patriotic bed. Groupings like these create a wave of color that pleases the eye.

Bulbs that will flower from February through March include Snowdrops, (Galanthus) which often impatiently pushing their way through the snow with their frosty-white flowers, slightly nodding between two bright green leaves. Just when you think winter will never end, there appear lovely blue blossoms of Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa). Both of these early spring flowers bloom about 4 to 6 inches from the ground.

Siberian squilla is also early flowering, producing masses of bright blue flowers on spikes of four to six inches in height.

Everyone's harbinger of spring is the crocus. These small early flowering bulbs are ideal for naturalizing, planting in masses or scattering throughout the yard. They will flower and mature before plants develop leaves. They are also ideal for naturalizing in the lawn, where mowing needs to be delayed a little for them to mature and produce enough food to flower the next year. A home at Sikeston has them planted throughout their lawn, and what a pretty early spring picture this has created!

For something entirely different try the guinea hen flower (Fritillaria meleagris) with its mottled checkered, bell-shaped flowers. Masses of bright purple-blue complement flowering trees and shrubs with the use of blue group hyacinths (Muscari). The Spanish bluebell (squilla hispanica) offers landscape color in pastel tones of pink and blue.

Daffodils are the darlings of springtime. Large, bold and colorful, they contrast beautifully with the spring blooming trees and the other spring flowering bulbs. They come in a range of colors from white through pink, salmon, orange and gold, often with contrasting trumpets and perianths. There are more than 3,000 varieties so the choice is great.

Ideal for naturalizing, daffodils can often be bought in quantities at good prices. Keep in mind that their foliage must remain unmowed until it has begun to dry to ensure flowering the next spring.

There are Single and Double Early flowering tulips, Darwin, Parrot, Cottage, Lily-Flowered, Double Late, and Breeder tulips. They will bloom over a long period in the springtime, and range in height from 10 to 26 inches, and the colors are a tremendous choice.

Plant bulbs now for a big color show in the spring.