I would like to trade for some allium bulbs, some of each if possible. I have red pine cone ginger tublers to trade. Drop me a line please.

Gardenpoppy, Just shipped out my box today priority and put the same inside. I sent daffodil bulbs, white calla lily bulbs, pink tulips, orange Wyoming canna, and misc cannas that could be red yellow or orange. (I forget what color they were) My biggest want for this swap would be to have pink cannas, not salmon but pretty pink with green leaves. I would give away all of my orange ones for pink!!! And of course the usual-love to have asiatic, oriental lilies, alliums-love them too, etc... anything pink, purple or white. This has been fun, next year will be better because I will have more stuff to swap. Thanks again for hosting!!! jenny.

The primary consideration is the actual low soil temperature(s) to which the bulbs are exposed. Even in prolonged periods of cold, where temperatures hover around -15 - -20 C., actual soil temperatures at 10 - 25 cm. (normal range of bulb planting depth) rarely drop much below -4 C. Whiskey barrels are fair insulators, in that the wooden sides will help hold in some heat that rises from the ground. A heavy layer of mulch will help insulate the top & keep some heat in the container as well, but the exposed containers will be much more susceptible to temperatures that drop low enough to freeze the bulbs. Also, moist soil tends to be colder than dry soil, and your bulbs will appreciate being quite dry, so some kind of cover that allows some air in but reduces the amount of rain and snow the soil gets would also be helpful. Best I can say w/o a crystal ball is it depends on what kind of temperatures you usually experience, but here's what I would do: Get some smaller containers that fit well in the whiskey barrels. Plant your bulbs in a very fast soil now & overwinter in your garage. Throw a little snow on the containers occasionally to keep them from drying completely. As soon as the frost goes out of the whiskey barrels, bury the containers in the soil. You'll have your beautiful spring bulb display; as the individual displays fade, simply remove the containers & set aside in a sunny spot where the foliage can build bulb strength for next year's display. This also leaves the containers available all summer for anything you might wish to plant in the way of annuals. How long the blooms last will depend on how much sun, wind, and the temperatures after blooms form, but 2-3 weeks is what I usually get from bulb display plantings in containers. Good luck. Al

Interesting, thanks! Grape Hyacinths are actually a part of the lily family; their name results from the fact that they look like hyacinths. From the genus Muscari, these easy to grow bulbs are winter hardy in zones 3-9. One bulb results in a single flower, which reaches about 10 inches in height. For maximum impact, consider planting a large grouping of grape hyacinths. In addition to a pretty landscape, youâÂÂll also enjoy the lovely musk-like scent each time you wander past. http://www.ask.com/explore/how-grow-grape-hyacinths There is some question over their toxicity if eaten? Grape hyacinths, often grown for their fragrant smell, are not toxic. However, it is easy to confuse them with common hyacinths, which are. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/grape-hyacinth-bulbs-poisonous-81618.html Grape Hyacinth contains comisic acid which acts like a saponin, this can be poisonous to some species especially fish. It is poorly absorbed by the human body. Has been used with other species of Muscari, for its diuretic and stimulant properties. Conflicting information in sources list M. armeniacum as poisonous and non-poisonous, we have erred on the safe side and list it as poisonous. Here is a link that might be useful: Muscari armeniacum