Chicago Botanic Garden

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PHOTO: bulb garden

Graham Bulb Garden

Visitors to the Graham Bulb Garden this year will be delighted with the addition of thousands of new bulbs, which prolongs this garden's bloom period even further! The garden has been dramatically opened up to reveal scenic vistas and views of surrounding gardens and lakes.

Dramatic drifts of new cultivars of narcissus, tulips, ornamental onions, fritillaries and lilies were planted to ensure a constant color show from early spring well into fall. The Bulb Garden is the place to go anytime in spring to see thousands of tulips blooming in succession with vibrant color.

Gardeners will find inspiration at every turn. The expanded container collection demonstrates how to use bulbs in new and unusual ways. Look for specimen connoisseur bulbs artfully combined with other flowering plants; diminutive bulbs planted in raised areas for easy viewing; and perennial bulbs forced indoors for early blooming.

PHOTO: tulips in bulb garden

Bulbs are underplanted with more bulbs. Flowering ground cover complements clusters of unique bulbs. An innovative double-planting technique creates the appearance of bulbs blooming over a longer period. By mixing forced bulbs with bulbs planted directly into the ground, the flower show extends weeks longer.

Kris Jarantoski, executive vice president and director of the Garden, has been involved with the Bulb Garden since its inception. "The Bulb Garden now contains additional bulbs for a more colorful, breathtaking display over the entire growing season, and will incorporate many more new and unusual bulbs seldom seen in Chicago gardens," he noted.

Visitors can enjoy views of the Aquatic Garden from the elevated plaza at the Bulb Garden entrance or relax at the shaded seating area, perfect for garden dreaming.

Find out what's in bloom now.