Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Allium, Garden Onions

Alliums are a huge family - it includes table onions, chives and the gorgeous garden "onions".
The latter come in many varieties from the tiny yellow allium molly to the huge football sized allium christophii. I love them all. They are very easy to grow, the majority are bulbs that are planted in the fall just like daffodils and tulips.
Like tulips they are sometimes eaten by little animals - I would have thought the onion taste would deter them but apparently not. The most long lasting I have found is the huge and regal Allium Globemaster. They are expensive but just a few bulbs make a big show.
Coincidentally my John Scheepers bulb catalogue came in the mail today - I am going to try some new alliums for next summer.


22 comments:

Unknown said...

I never knew there were such beautiful varieties of onion. Gorgeous!

Southern Mom Finds said...

this post may change my mind about onions!

Jill Q said...

I never knew those type of flowers were in the onion family. Now I have to google to see if the petals have an onion scent ...

Anonymous said...

Wow, onions are beautiful? You learn something new every day!

a.mattimeo said...

Great post! They are all so beautiful, love alliums and their flowers!

theMayflower said...

Onions? Really? They're stunning!

Romantic.Treasures said...

Lovely pictures. I didn't know onions could be so lovely. I'll have to do a little more research to see what will grow in my area. I especially like the pink ones. Thanks for sharing!

nangatesdesigns said...

Very interesting post and beautiful pictures! I learned something new today!

CamillesCloset said...

I just love your pics. It makes want to visit NH. I did have some onions planted. They have not come up this last year maybe it is to wet. But I loved the smell and I loved the purple bloom.

CalliopeCreations said...

Your photographs are fantastic!

Love the onions.

jlcjbuzz said...

Gorgeous photographs!

Dee said...

You are great about educating us, and enthralling us with your photography. Thanks!

Sewinggranny - Mona said...

VEry pretty...lol...never knew onions could be pretty.

Unknown said...

Who knew onions could be so beautiful. I certainly have seen these flowers, but had no idea they were in the onion family. Learned something new again today.

Susie Tenzer said...

Lovely! I really love flowers, I paint them quite often, although I haven't done these!

cigarboxbeads said...

what lovely pictures!

thanks for posting them!

marilyn g
cigarboxbeads and suchandsort

Krisztina Clifton said...

So beautiful!

Cassie's Tale said...

Wow, your photos are beautiful -- so soft and dreamy!

Deb said...

uniquecozytreasures - Beautiful photos. I have some of those and they are so pretty. I wonder if they are eatable?

Unknown said...

I love Allium. And as usual your photos are fantastic!

Lbtoyos said...

What beautiful flowers and photos!!! Thanks for sharing.

Erika Price said...

What beautiful alliums! I grow lots too, mostly in shades of lilac and purple, but haven't tried the christophii yet. The most wonderful thing I find is that they seed themselves and every year there are more and more! Erika Price Jewelry