‘Naturalized’ bulb plantings bloom around Ithaca

In these “naturalized” plantings, the early bulbs push up through the turf in spring, and bloom before the grass begins to grow. “This planter greatly reduces the labor required to establish naturalized bulb plantings,” says Miller. “Some people might be concerned about the lack of precise placement of the bulbs. But most bulbs are forgiving about how deep they are planted and do fine if not planted right side up.”

Miller hopes that planters like this one might catch on with commercial landscapers and municipalities and result in more naturalized bulb plantings.  A benefit of this approach can be less mowing of turf areas due to the need to let the bulb foliage die back naturally.  In such areas, landscapers could substantially reduce carbon emissions from spring mowing, leading to a more sustainable landscape, Miller says.

The Ithaca Garden Club donated bulbs for two of the plantings Miller and his team installed last fall in Stewart Park and north of the Ithaca Children’s Garden along the pathway on the west side of Route 89.

Naturalized bulb plantings around Ithaca include:

• Along the bioswale adjacent to the Nevin Center parking lot at Cornell Botanic Gardens.
• Along Arboretum Road adjacent to the Pounder Heritage Vegetable Garden at Cornell Botanic Gardens.
• Several smaller plantings in the Newman Arboretum at Cornell Botanic Gardens. From Caldwell Road, turn into the arboretum, park in area to the left.  Planting is a double row going up the rise into the meadow with allium and Nectaroscordum bulbs flowering later in the season.
• Along the north side of Route 366 between Guterman Greenhouses and Triticum Drive. Mixed planting of tulips, daffodils, crocus and others.
• Along the south edge of Route 366 west of Game Farm Road near the New York State Seed Improvement Program barn.
• Along Taughannock Boulevard east of the Ithaca Children’s Garden.
• Along the path north of the Ithaca Children’s Garden west of Route 89.
• Along Pier Road adjacent to Newman Golf Course.

Miller has also spearheaded numerous plantings on Long Island, including at:            

• Cornell’s Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center in Riverhead.
• Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River, Suffolk County.
• Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, Nassau County.

Plans are underway for additional plantings along the inlet from Cass Park south to the bridge.