WINTER ACONITES

Evening Star, Issue 23325, 22 July 1939, Page 21

WINTER ACONITES

It may be said with truth that the majority of people who plant' bulbs in. the autumn and early winter overlook the claims of one of the earliest to bloom and gladden us with their flowers before the lightest footsteps of spring appear (writes ‘‘ Lorna,” in the ‘ Manawatu Daily Times’). Sometimes catalogues merely show this as eranthis hyemalis, and to the one who has never grown the bulbs it conveys no idea as to their value. They are not expensive, when one comes to consider that once planting has been done they may, like snowdrops, be left undisturbed for years. The flowers of the winter aconite are a golden yellow surrounded by frilly green leaves, giving a bit of colour to the garden very early. To get the best from them, the bulbs should be planted in groups, especially near to a door or under the shelter of a friendly south wall where their early blossoms can be appreciated. They thrive in quite ordinary soil, and, once established, ought hot to be disturbed. They aro useful for grouping in the rock garden, and even in countries where snow lies, these brave little blossoms will push through.