March 15, 2026

“March so fickle, March so fair,
Pouting, shy, with wind-blown hair,
Nut-brown shawl and crocus cup,
Smile that lights the whole world up.”
- Sara L. Vickers Oberholtzer, (American poet, activist, and economist; from "The Lady March," Souvenirs of Occasions, 1892

Spring Shipping Season Is Almost Here and More Varieties are Available to Order

Spring shipping season is just around the corner! We plan to begin shipping on March 30, starting with the warmer zones, then continuing based on the date of the orders.

Now that dahlia tuber splitting is complete, we’ve updated our website with even more beautiful dahlia varieties. Many other items are beginning to sell out, so if you haven’t finished placing your spring order, now is the perfect time to do so.

For the fall, the following varieties are back and were last offered in 2024: ‘S. Arnott’ snowdrop, Magnet snowdrop, ‘Daphne’ daffodil, ‘Rosy Trumpet’ daffodil, clusiana tulip, ‘Sapphire Beauty’ iris.

A quick update from inside our office: After 20 incredible years with Old House Gardens, Rita has decided to move on. We wish her the best of luck with her next endeavor! Stepping into the role of customer service liaison, long-time and highly knowledgeable gardener Sue has stepped up. She started as a bulb picker and has helped tend our gardens for the past eight years. Sue also grows a substantial amount of our rare dahlias we offer.

Spring Fertilizer for Fall-Planted Bulbs

Like all plants, your fall-planted bulbs will do better when their nutritional needs are met, and that usually means fertilizing them every now and then. Early spring is one good time to do it, before – or as soon as – the foliage emerges. Don’t wait too long, though, or you’ll find it’s hard to keep fertilizer granules from lodging among the emerging leaves where they can burn the tender foliage.

Although it’s always best to be guided by a soil test – and over-fertilizing can cause long-term problems – if you haven’t fertilized in a while, you’re probably safe doing it this spring. A relatively balanced (something like 10-10-10), slow-release fertilizer is best, but anything other than high-nitrogen (the first number) lawn fertilizers will work just fine. Though bone meal was a popular fertilizer for bulbs in the past, the way it’s processed today saps most of its nutrients, and it can attract animals. Fertilizing can be especially helpful in revitalizing crowded clumps of daffodils that no longer bloom well.

A Garden Walk With Your Camera

Winter is still keeping many of us from our outdoor gardens. In much of the country, it’s time q to start seeds, and our houseplants have been our only hands-on connection to gardening for months. Meanwhile, advertisements for plants are showing up in our social media and catalogs may even arrive by mail - encouraging our desire to get back to the garden.

While we wait for warmer days, open up your photo library and take a stroll through your spring and summer garden photos.

What do you love most about your garden in spring? In summer? Can you imagine the flowers swaying in a warm breeze? Is there a special spot where you always look for those first blooms? Do you already have a space in mind where you will begin this year’s gardening season? Where will you pause to enjoy what you have created?

As you scroll, notice the rhythm of your garden. Are there areas that shine for a few weeks and then sit quiet the rest of the season? Are there stretches of time when you took no photos at all? If nothing interesting was happening, chances are that space could use more seasonal interest.

This simple “photo walk” brings a touch of spring into winter days—but it’s also a practical planning tool. The Fall 2025 edition of Fine Gardening magazine includes “Your Guide to Spring Bulb Success,” (Spring Bulb Guide: Best Types to Plant and Garden Planning Tips) with helpful advice on using photos that can be used to plan for both fall-planted and spring-planted bulbs. Looking back makes it easier to design forward.

You may notice spots that are missing from pictures or places where you would like to see more flowers in spring or in summer. You may also notice periods of time with no garden photos - if there is nothing interesting happening in the garden, there are probably no photos during that period.

Pay attention to spaces that feel empty in early spring while you’re waiting for summer perennials to emerge. Consider filling those gaps with daffodils, tulips, or alliums and other fall-planted bulbs to add a burst of color when your garden needs it most.

Later in the season, you may notice another lull. Irises, gladiolus, daylilies, dahlias, and other spring-planted bulbs can carry vibrant color well into summer and even early fall.

As you review your photos, also think beyond peak bloom. Imagine how plants look as their flowering season ends. Bulb foliage must remain in place to gather energy for next year, but those yellowing leaves aren’t always attractive - daylilies and daffodils are some of the best. Thoughtfully placed perennials can serve as companion plants, gently concealing fading foliage while keeping your garden looking fresh.

Fine Gardening’s steps to adding more bulbs to your garden…

• Start by taking a look back.
• Check for gaps in your camera roll.
• Your summer garden will provide planting cues.
• Unusual spaces hold plenty of potential.
• Layer beauty into lawn areas.
• Containers offer key advantages.

A quiet early spring or wintry afternoon spent walking through your garden photos may be just the inspiration you need. Spring will arrive soon - Spring-planted bulbs ship in April and Fall-planted bulbs (for those spring blooms) are ready to order for shipping in October. This year’s garden may be even more beautiful than you remember.

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