An illustrated insider’s guide to the best flowering bulbs for beautiful garden plantings throughout the year
Bulbs are an essential part of any gardener’s planting palette – from the first snowdrops of winter to the last crocus of autumn, they offer endless opportunities for floral impact and experimentation.
In A Year in Bloom, award-winning garden writer Lucy Bellamy showcases a wide-ranging selection of more than 150 bulbs, each presented with informative text, expert planting advice, and vibrant photography.
Organized into four seasonal chapters, this modern grower’s guide embraces familiar flowers such as tulips and daffodils alongside less common blooms, including dog’s tooth violets, gladioli, and autumn snowflakes. Gardeners will discover bulbs suited for borders, containers, and grass plantings; bulbs to attract pollinators, for scent, for naturalized plantings; and reliably perennial bulbs that will flower year after year, supporting a sustainable approach.
Elegantly designed and extensively researched, A Year in Bloom features contributions from an all-star roster of the garden world’s greatest names, including Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf, British garden designer Dan Pearson, and renowned US garden writer Margaret Roach.
Featured bulbs include: Acis autumnalis ; Allium sphaerocephalon; Anemone nemorosa ‘Robinsoniana’; Bessera elegans; Camassia leichtlinii ‘Alba’; Colchicum autumnale; Crocus tommasinianus; Cyclamen repandum; Eranthis hyemalis; Erythronium ‘Pagoda’; Fritillaria meleagris; Galanthus elwesii ‘Mrs Macnamara’; Galanthus plicata ‘E.A. Bowles’; Gladiolus communis subsp. byzantinus; Gladiolus papilio ‘Ruby’; Hippeastrum ‘Terra Mystica’; Iris ‘Benton Nigel’; Iris reticulata; Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’; Lilium martagon; Muscari armeniacum ‘Valerie Finnis’; Narcissus ‘Thalia’; Narcissus fernandesii var. cordubensis; Nerine bowdenii; Ornithogalum ponticum ‘Sochi’; Scilla bifolia; Tritonia disticha subsp. rubrolucens; Tulipa ‘Ballerina’;Tulipa orphanidea (Whittallii Group); Tulipa sylvestris.
Review
'Flower folks? Get this book as soon as you can.' - Slow Flowers Journal
‘Seasoned and novice gardeners alike will appreciate the book's organized layout and information, along with the breathtaking photos showcasing delicate bulbs in all of their glory.’ – Library Journal
'Beautiful.’ – Pond and Garden
Praise for Bellamy's previous book, Brilliant and Wild:
‘Bellamy makes gardening seem simple, expressive and joyful. Anyone can do it cheaply and with little spare time.’ – Evening Standard
‘Urban gardening has long ignored the nature around it, but even if one garden in every street adopted Bellamy’s plan, our cities would be more buzzing and beautiful. Brilliant and Wild makes that seem enticingly possible.’ – Gardens Illustrated
About the Author
Lucy Bellamy is an editor and writer, specializing in gardens and plants. Her previous books include Brilliant and Wild (2018) and Grow 5 (2022). She is the former editor of Gardens Illustrated magazine and now writes about gardening in the national press.
Jason Ingram is an award-winning garden photographer based in Bristol. He travels widely photographing gardens, food, people, and interiors, alongside working with international garden designers on private commissions.
