There is a March bank in the garden of Winterthur in Delaware, I have never been there in March to see it, but am certain it's glorious. I'm told that their March bank is a shady knoll where all manner of March flowering things bloom. Many are small bulbs, primarily Crocus tommasianus, snowdrops, Iris reticulata and striped squill or pushkinia. A number of early flowering perennials probably grow there as well. This past spring I set out to create my own March bank, an ongoing process, as are all gardens. Not having seen the one at Winterthur may have its advantages. I'm free to imagine, free to plan. Since so many of the flowers will arrive from bulbs, this is the time to order and plant.

My March bank is barely a slope and approximately nine feet long and six feet wide. This past March, I moved and plunked perennials as they came into flower. I lost nary a one, it's the perfect time to move and re-establish perennials. I even managed to move some bulbs, relocating snowdrops, dropping them betwixt and between. The rest of the bulbs need to be purchased now and the size of your March bank will determine how many bulbs to order. As many as fifteen bulbs can be planted per square foot, naturally the smaller the bulb, the more required. Bulbs will grow right through existing perennials and I often recommend that treatment, but the perennials in this planting will be trying to put on their own show, a bit sloppy if allowed to run all over each other. The bulb of choice, aside from snowdrops are Crocus tommasianus and its many cultivars and hybrids. One selection is Crocus t. 'Ruby Giant', not ruby in colored, actually the darkest purple flowering form and certainly not a giant. Another is Crocus t. 'Whitewell Purple' with a white interior and purple petal edges, perfect with snowdrops. Almost all pictures of perennialized crocus in lawn or landscape are of Crocus tommasianus, resistant to squirrels, it loves to spread and grow in the company of tree roots or scattered in the lawn. In Georgetown there is a cemetery named 'Oak Hill' and in March the lawn is carpeted with this crocus and snowdrops, randomly paired and I'm sure established many, many years ago. Visitors to the cemetery are required to prove they have family buried there. I was quickly escorted out when I visited, not having met the requirement. But what a lovely site it was, what little I could see. The tiny Iris reticulata is a bulb as well, gorgeous in detail but readily eaten by squirrels. I once planted 500 bulbs and after 2 years had none. The March bank will manage fine without them. The striped squill is a tiny bulb which produces flowers in March that are striped in pale blue and white. Barely three inches tall, they are nice next to clumps of pulmonaria. Some years there are still plenty of eranthis or winter aconites in flower in early March. Most years they come into flower in mid February. Members of the family Ranunculaceae, they are poisonous and not eaten by squirrels. In the right location, they too will perennialize and spread. Growing and thriving with available sunlight, it will be weeks before trees put out enough new leaves to obliterate the light. Winter aconite's flowers are bright yellow, they brighten up the March bank and nestle nicely with other bulbs.

Few perennials flower as early as March. If you are actively seeking a few to include, I can vouch for pulmonaria, certain primula and most helleborus. The primrose to include is Primula ssp. sibthorpii. The flower is often described as a muddy purple. Mine is from Heronswood Nursery, now closed. Their catalog named Camellia Forest Nursery of North Carolina as the original source. Having owned this particular primrose from many sources, I can say that the color is far superior, far more purple and very early to come into flower. Heat tolerant, this is a particularly fine perennial. Pulmonarias are also known as lungwort. Flowers are usually blue but can be white or pink. Shade, or at least a half day of shade, is best. Removal of flowers and foliage in late spring is the sum total of maintenance. Helleborus rarely need introduction, their popularity has been aided by deer resistance and tolerance of shade and sun. The flowers arrive in late winter and last for months. Slow to mature but worth the investment in both time and money. I have counted 60 flowers on one plant. This year I was happily surprised with Trillium sessile, a native wildflower that comes into flower in late March. Red to maroon flowers, I moved it with so many others from the plant farm.

Six months from now the March bank will begin to emerge. Just as I look at my September garden I realize it's full of things I put in 6 months prior. The hardy cyclamen, fall flowering crocus, the bulbs of the garden. It's time to take action for March, time to get planting.