Green Gardening: Arboretum sale is a fall highlight

By ANN LOVEJOY
SPECIAL TO THE P-I

When autumn rains saturate summer-baked soil, it's bulb-planting time. No matter how crummy the summer, planting bulbs always feels like a hopeful endeavor and never fails to lift our spirits. It's easiest to add bulbs in newer gardens or recently renovated beds, but even well-packed borders have room for a handful of crocus, snowdrops, checker lilies or hyacinths.

If your bulbs have not lasted well in the past, remember to place them well away from any irrigation. Summer water rots dormant bulbs, so pick sunny, dry spots for this year's crop.

If squirrels are your nemesis, scatter lots of crushed or ground pepper on the ground after planting. To keep moles away, tuck hot pepper flakes down under with the bulbs (or check out the mole busters at the upcoming arboretum sale).

For inspiration of the most delectable kind, make a note on your calendar to visit the Arboretum Foundation's Fall Bulb & Plant Sale on Oct. 5-6. For two amazing days, you'll find the largest array of bulbs and friends anywhere in the Northwest, from avalanche lilies to Zantedeschia (Calla).

To help those bulbs produce a brave showing, you'll find companionable perennials from more than 15 specialty growers who bring a wealth of seldom-seen goodies. Peonies are in especially good supply, with an exceptional array of singles, doubles, Japanese anemone-types and bosomy bombs in all shades from white through coral and pink to raspberry and rose. Easy-to-grow daylilies are another specialty, with ruffled, diamond-dusted, and beautifully watermarked petals.

Shade gardeners can plant sweeps of bluebells and cyclamen, as well as starry little wood anemones. These last have roots like dried up twigs, so don't be surprised when they don't look like "bulbs." The sale also offers a full range of hostas, ferns and shade perennials, from Japanese or creamy woodland anemones to wood asters. No matter what your growing conditions, you'll come home with a seasonal armload of flowers to enjoy indoors and out.

Need tools? Gardening books? No problem -- they're all here.

But back to the bulbs. As you may know, deer do not eat narcissus. This makes them the bulb of choice in rural areas, where tulips vanish like cream puffs at a ladies tea party. Yellow not your color? Narcissus also come in many related shades. You'll find white, pale pink, apricot, golden orange and even creamy green ones that look amazing with coppery grasses or curling fern fronds.

Indoor narcissus also are available in white or shades of yellow and soft gold. Started in small batches from October into November, these pre-chilled bulbs provide intensely fragrant flowers throughout the holiday season. Some are less perfumed, others longer lasting, so ask the helpful volunteer staff for recommendations and growing advice.

Ornamental onions (Allium) also are great for deer country. Ranging in size from tiny bells a few inches high to basketball-size blooms on 3-foot stalks, the Allium clan will keep you in color from early spring well into fall, when the architectural seedheads take on shimmering shades of copper and bronze. Edible onions also are here, from garlic and shallots to lovely leeks. Fall planting is ideal for the whole onion family, so stock up now for next summer's pestos and pizzas.

Worried about keeping your bulbs year after year? Long-lasting heirloom bulbs have been around for hundreds of years, from single early tulips and multiheaded jonquils to fragrant grape hyacinths and early blooming crocus.

If deer ravage your garden, grow species tulips in pots near the house, or force them now for early spring blooms indoors. You'll also find a huge selection of sturdy, dependable Triumph tulips for containers or garden beds.

To help you figure out how deep to plant your bulbs, pick up a waterproof (laminated) bulb planting guide that won't be wrecked if it gets doused during planting season. You'll find these at the sale and they also will be available in the Arboretum Foundation's gift shop all month.