Though the heady haze of August is very much upon us, it’s time to start thinking of spring.

Spring-flowering bulbs—like hyacinths, daffodils and tulips—are the first flowers to awaken the garden after its long winter nap. But come March, it’s too late to add them to your garden.

These bulbs are planted in fall, and purchased anywhere from late summer (now!) through planting time.

I have found so much delight, not to mention reprieve, in the cheerful blooms that emerge in the impossibility of winter. It’s like nature’s magic trick.

Making magic

I’d love to share a bit of this magic with you, so I created the spring-flowering bulb guide.

This in-depth guide explores the most popular types of bulbs and their unique characteristics, how to make the best bulb selections for your garden, and how to successfully plant them in the ground and in containers.

It also includes instructive notes on caring for spring bulbs, go-to bulb sources and a selection of Garden People’s favorite varieties!

A lot of time, effort and care goes into creating resources like this, so I’m offering the guide for a small fee. Your support is, as always, so greatly appreciated.

🌸 Flower I’m admiring

The dance of the dahlias has begun.

I am in awe—in absolute awe!—of how many of last year’s dahlias returned to their patch this year. Dahlias are typically not perennials in zone 6 gardens, so it is quite the surprise.

The patch is a mix of ball dahlias, decorative dahlias and open-centered dahlias, growing wildly, (as I’ve barely staked anything this year) and wonderfully.

🍄 What I’m inspired by

I’m not a cook, but I love Julia Childs.

The buoyant way she moved through life is admirable, and her joy at the simplest things infectious.

I’ve recently been captivated by a rather particular piece of her life—the photography of her husband, Paul Child. His slice-of-life style of photography captures many subjects, Julia chief among them, in the casual yet languid pleasures of a life well lived.

If you do pick up this guide, or any of our Garden People guides, reply back and let me know what you think! Are there other guides you might be interested in? Tell me if so!

xx,

Courtney