Last fall, I decided to plant some hyacinths in my front-yard garden. I am reaping the benefits now. When I was a child, I admired hyacinths, smelling their scent and enjoying their colors. So, naturally they have a place in my new garden. I live in zone 7 of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Hyacinths grow best in zones 5-7, where they are perennials. I added some bone meal two inches under where I placed the bulbs to give them a head start.
I found some fascinating history on the hyacinth while doing research for this post. Hyacinths originated from the Middle East around Turkey. They were introduced to Europe around the mid-1500s and from 1780 to 1880 were more popular than tulips. Homer, the epic poet of Greece, mentioned hyacinths in the Iliad as being the flowers that adorned Hera’s couch.
Apparently, there are double hyacinths, and they are the rarest of the species. I purchased all regular ones last fall. They are Jan Bos, Peter Stuyvesant, Fondant, and Delft Blue. I am pleased with all of them, but I would love to build my collection with some double-blooming species. Hyacinths are easy to plant and grow. They are affordable and work great as cut flowers. I hope to enjoy my bulbs for many years to come.
I planted other bulbs in my garden that are coming up now. I have daffodils that are yet to bloom, and tulips have started shooting up out of the ground. Bulbs are so enjoyable to grow because they require little effort and offer great rewards. Beginning gardeners should have no trouble starting out with bulbs. I have always grown them outdoors, but there are other options. They can be planted in pots, or some can be placed in containers without soil. Planted indoors, they can be forced to bloom in winter months to bring some cheer. I will have more flowers to post once they bloom. Here is a picture of the tulips I referred to earlier:
