GardenLove Sorry I can't really answer your questions. I have planted some allium bulbs in spring, just can't remember which ones. I believe it was some sort of mixed allium package from White Flower Farm. Most of the alliums I have grown were planted in fall, but the ones from WFF did well also. I have never grown stipitatum, but I don't see any reason why you cannot plant them in pots if you want. If you decide to plant them in the ground instead, just pick a place that is a bit on the dry side. Your sandy area above the pond sounds okay, but the heavy large headed allium may need something to hold them upright. They grow fine in my clay soil as long as I can keep them in a dry enough spot that they don't rot. My garden books just say well-drained soil. I'm sure that there are experts here that can help you. As for Molly, I have tried it but have not had much luck with it returning. It is borderline hardy for my area. It's a very pretty bright yellow color but fairly small. I would plant all 10 of yours fairly tightly together for impact. I planted mine in a small yellow bed to come after the mini daffodils. Looked lovely, but didn't come back. :~( Small alliums are so cheap that I just add some every year. Some return some don't. All look nice and are great filler plants. They all bloom in quite early summer when most of my perennials are just short green plants. As the perennials fill in they hide the dying/messy allium foliage. I use the large ones around my daylilies. The tall ones have to be carefully sited or they look out of place. I haven't really found a place I like for Christophii which are big headed, but quite short. Large ones I have are globemaster, christophii, & giganteum (not sure if that's what I really have). Christophii and giganteum come back year after year. Globemaster is new so I will see how they do. Some others are are schubertii, sphaerocephalum & unifolium. Unifolium is short with soft looking pale lilac pink flowers and spreads likes crazy. (I have also tried caeruleum, which came back the second year but not the 3rd. Their color is wonderful, so I may try them again. Spaerocephalum does very well for me. Its small-headed, but tall, with a bright burgandy/purple color, which I happen to like with strong peachy colors. Here are some pictures to give you ideas. Sphaerocephalum These were sold to me as giganteum, but their color is wrong for giganteum, very pretty anyway. In the daylily bed. Christophii under Aronia bushes, bit messy looking here because of all the spring bulb foliage, may move

I'm zone5 so I don't know if I can be of help, but I grow alliums and love them. They are prolific, easy to divide and non invasive.For a spring English gardden cottage look they can't be beat. I also grow the larger globemasters which are alwys a show stopper. The only problem I have with them is that ech year they get smaller and smaller. They are slow to ddevelop bulbs and when they do they are typical of the standard allium bulbs. The shape and color remain constant year to year though so I just move to them to the front where they are still lovely just not as eyepopping.

I have no bulbs for trade, nor advice but I can tell you what bulbs I successfully grow in zone 8b SW GA. What grows for me in the hottest, most humid part of the state are certain daffodils: jonquillas, triandrus types, miniatures and cyclamineus types; hyacinths do well for me. Those are the early spring bulbs. Late spring: agapanthus, amaryllis, Longiflorum/Asiatic hybrid lilies, and Calla lilies. In summer: crocosmia, crinum, caladium, colocasia, Oriental/Trumpet lilies and their hybrids; cannas In late summer and fall: lycoris and sternbergia I've grown tulips and freesias. Like yours they didn't come back. Tulips are too much trouble, freesias prefer greenhouse treatment. The alliums I planted didn't grow, either. Glads do come back for me sometimes but not always. Bulbs that have not done well for me include dahlias, tuberoses and muscari. I saw blooms but not increase. Recommended bulbs that I have not tried include leucojum and zepharanthes, but I have seen these growing in gardens in Grady County. BrentandBeckysBulbs have their summer bulbs on sale until June 1. Nell

You can Google, How to start Ornimental Alliums seeds in Mi. or what ever state you live in. I just put them on good soil in MI . Winter chill brakes them open and they grow. or you can do as google sites tell you. Mark the spot as they look a bit like grass at first.They form into bulbs. Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/qa/ornamental-allium-seed.aspx