Bulbs are an essential part of any gardener’s planting palette – from the first snowdrops of winter to the last crocus of autumn, they offer endless opportunities for floral impact and experimentation.
A Year in Bloom is an illustrated insider’s guide to the best flowering bulbs for beautiful garden plantings throughout the year. Organised into four seasonal chapters, this guide embraces the familiar tulips and daffodils alongside less common blooms, such as dog’s tooth violets, gladioli and autumn snowflakes. Gardeners will discover bulbs suited for borders, containers, and grass plantings; bulbs to attract pollinators, for scent, for naturalized plantings; and reliably perennial bulbs that will flower year after year, supporting a sustainable approach.
Bellamy’s new book also includes contributions from the garden world’s greatest names, including Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf, British garden designer Dan Pearson, and renowned US garden writer Margaret Roach.
Bulbs featured in a Year in Bloom include: Acis autumnalis ; Allium sphaerocephalon; Anemone nemorosa ‘Robinsoniana’; Bessera elegans; Camassia leichtlinii ‘Alba’; Colchicum autumnale; Crocus tommasinianus; Cyclamen repandum; Eranthis hyemalis; Erythronium ‘Pagoda’; Fritillaria meleagris; Galanthus elwesii ‘Mrs Macnamara’; Galanthus plicata ‘E.A. Bowles’; Gladiolus communis subsp. byzantinus; Gladiolus papilio ‘Ruby’; Hippeastrum ‘Terra Mystica’; Iris ‘Benton Nigel’; Iris reticulata; Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’; Lilium martagon; Muscari armeniacum ‘Valerie Finnis’; Narcissus ‘Thalia’; Narcissus fernandesii var. cordubensis; Nerine bowdenii; Ornithogalum ponticum ‘Sochi’; Scilla bifolia; Tritonia disticha subsp. rubrolucens; Tulipa ‘Ballerina’;Tulipa orphanidea (Whittallii Group) and Tulipa sylvestris.
Lucy Bellamy is an editor and writer, specialising in gardens and plants. Her previous books include Brilliant and Wild (2018) and Grow 5 (2022). She is the former editor of Gardens Illustrated magazine and now writes about gardening in the national press.
Jason Ingram is an award-winning garden photographer based in Bristol. He travels widely photographing gardens, food, people, and interiors, alongside working with international garden designers on private commissions.
A Year in Bloom: Flowering Bulbs for Every Season (Phaidon) will be released on the 10th of October 2024