Versatile Alliums

If you’re looking for something a little different, this member of the onion family won’t disappoint. There are about thirty cultivars to choose from, all striking. Alliums are easy to grow and pack a lot of punch for a bulb. Though still not very well known, they are steadily gaining in popularity, Once you have them, you’ll wonder how you did without them for so long.

At the end of this article is a summary profile chart.

Allium Purple Sensation

I must confess that other than chives, the more ornamental alliums were new to me too, until just recently. But wow do I love them now. When the setting sun backlights the white cultivar Mount Everest, it’s as if my garden is full of floating paper lanterns. Beguiling!

Beat the Weeds

No one that I’ve met really enjoys weeding.  Luckily there are ways to tame this often dreaded chore along with deadheading and trimming, so the task is manageable rather than monstrous. Here are a few tips.

I collect weeds in rubber barrels until I have a full load (4 barrels) to take to the municipal mulching center. A board and dolly make loading and unloading a snap.