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Meet the Bulb Lady^®

Most people, when they first meet Debbie Van Bourgondien, come away feeling energized, motivated, and ready to take on the whole gardening world… or at least their little corner of it. Debbie has that effect on people. She’s as close to a gardening evangelist as you can get. Whether participating in her workshops, chatting in line at the grocery store, or just a chance encounter on the street Debbie is always ready to make a new friend and share her passion for gardens and plants.

The Bulb Lady wasn’t always a garden enthusiast, when she was a youngster her least favorite chore was weeding the garden. But things change and a beautifully gardened yard quickly became her peaceful haven where creativity reigns supreme. The only constant in Debbie’s garden is that it is always changing.

While the word “failure” doesn’t exist in her vocabulary (the plant grew or it didn’t; an enriching experience either way), garden successes abound for Debbie. It’s funny to think that a woman with the botanical world at her fingertips would find such delight in seemingly little accomplishments. The first blooms of the tricky Himalayan Blue Poppy were greeted with child-like glee and wonderment. The appearance of a delicate trillium in her shade garden was celebrated with a dinner party for family and friends. Debbie’s never met a plant she doesn’t like (except for weeds), and thrives on the chance to grow the newest cultivars alongside her longtime favorites.

Guests of Van Bourgondiens cannot escape a tour of the gardens, but who would want to? Fifty thousand Tulips and Daffodils are planted every fall and smother her spring garden in a riot of color. While hybrids and cultivars may change from year to year, the Daffodil ‘Bulblady’ will always make an appearance. Sun is a precious commodity in her shady landscape, but wherever it can be found there are Peonies and Lilacs in full glory. In the summertime sunny spots host Lilacs, Cannas, and Dahlias, her favorite. Debbie’s shady garden beds are filled to capacity with Caladiums of every sort.

Debbie claims to enjoy relaxing in her garden with a cup of coffee or glass of wine. But it’s hard to imaging this bundle of gardening energy slowing down long enough to sip a Chardonnay without splashing it while reaching to pull a missed weed or spent flower. Garden benches are just for looks; The Bulb Lady is much too busy planting, pruning, or primping flowers in the garden to sit still for long.

Debbie adores watching her granddaughters feed the koi in her garden pond. The three little girls aren’t particularly interested in gardening just yet, but she’s certain they’ll be bitten by the garden bug soon. Her three sons didn’t like to garden as boys either, and now they each have lovely gardens of their own. There’s no doubt that they couldn’t be luckier or have a better gardening mentor than their own mother, The Bulb Lady.

The Latest from the Bulb Lady^®

Garden Design

Mix It Up!

Almost everyone agrees that spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in the garden. But I've often wondered why so many people associate gardens and gardening only with spring. What about the beautiful daylilies, Asian and Oriental lilies, butterfly bushes and hydrangeas of summer? Who could ignore the sedums, daisies and dahlias of fall?

A Practically Perfect Garden – Tips & Tricks

Gardeners as a breed are hopeful people. And luckily, as we gain experience, we learn a lot of helpful hints and tips that make the dream of having our own “perfect garden” all the more possible.

Avoiding the Midsummer Droop

There is a lot we can do in the garden now (nothing too strenuous!) that can keep it looking great throughout the season.

Birds and Butterflies on the Move

Imagine sitting in your garden hearing the lovely song of a chirping bird or seeing the erratic progress of butterflies as they flutter from flower to flower.

Boom Without Bloom: A Garden Full of Color Without Flowers!

No flowers? How can you have a colorful garden without flowers? You just have to think a little differently about your garden. And, don’t forget, even the longest blooming flowers eventually fade – and then what’s left? The foliage. Ahh, the foliage!

Butterfly / Hummingbird Garden

Layout plan for a Butterfly / Hummingbird Garden.

Carefree Daylilies

Daylilies are outstanding perennials that enhance every garden style.

Color in the Garden! Foliage is beautiful!

You CAN have color in your garden all year – pay attention to the foliage as well as the flowers.

Color in the Garden, Some Basic Guidelines

You’d be surprised to learn what colors work well together – and which don’t.

Compost Away!

Composting is a fun way for you to pitch in and help Mother Nature keep all of our beloved.

Contained Gardens – Pots, Hanging Baskets & Windowboxes

Container gardening is one of the fastest growing (pun intended) areas of gardening today. This is partly because while everyone (almost) loves flowers, not everyone has the time, money, expertise and space for a large in-ground garden.

Containers Full of Color

Plant your bulbs in layers for extra impact and a longer display.

Containers with Class

Planting in containers makes for great versatility in your garden design. Here are some recipes to make yours look great.

Creating a Rock Garden

Have you ever seen a well-designed, well-constructed rock garden? I have been lucky enough to have visited several in the US and Canada

Creating Secret Gardens

I saw the movie “The Secret Garden” while sitting on an airplane, about as far from my own garden as I could get. And at the time, the notion that I could have a secret garden of my own seemed about as far from reality as I could get.

Delightful Dahlias

Dahlias for every garden. Finding the ones that work for you.

Divide & Conquer & Share, of Course!

Gardening is wonderful! What other hobby can give you such an amazing return on your investment?

Fall Blooming Color

A few years ago, a friend of mine - a real iris fanatic, sent me a photo that I was sure was a trick. It was full of autumn colors, with blazing trees and shrubs - and, in front, one lone and lovely bearded iris.

Fall Blooming Crocus & Colchicum

The rule of thumb is to plant crocus approximately three inches deep before Columbus Day for their best show this fall.

Forced Bulbs FAQ

I bought some spring-blooming bulbs in September, but never got around to planting them. Now it’s December and the ground is frozen. I have daffodil, tulip, crocus, snowdrop and grape hyacinth bulbs. What can I do?

Gardening by the Rule of Threes

I’ve never actually run across an actual “rule of three” in gardening. The closest I’ve come is the rule of thumb that says that plants look best if planted in groups of odd numbers – 3, 5 or 7.

Gardening in the Drought Age

How do we deal with drought and still keep our gardens looking good?

Gardening With Kids Tomorrow

If it's true that our children are our future, then the future of gardening belongs to them. It's up to us, as their elders, to make sure they understand what that legacy means.

Garden Mysteries: What To Do With Overlooked Bulbs & Bare Root Perennials

Now, as we move out of wintry winds (and worse) towards the balmy breezes of spring, a common mystery that puzzles many of us comes to light, probably on a shelf in the garage or in a bag under the kitchen sink: It’s, uh, oh! What’s this bag of tulip and daffodil bulbs doing here?

Gardens for Everyone (Creating a Community Garden)

Creating a community garden is not just a way to give back to the community, but a way to become integrated with that community, to become more connected with our neighbors as well as more in touch with ourselves.

Gardens That Say "I Love You"

Ask the typical person about flowers and love and they will start talking about roses. And yet when you think about it, you have to wonder why.

Get the Early Summer Blues

After spring comes a time when blue flowers are most plentiful – here are some great ones.

Have Color All Summer Long

Lots of gardens are beautiful in spring – and then, when summer comes, there’s nothing left in bloom. The good news is this doesn’t have to happen to you! You can have beautiful flowers all summer long and into the fall; you just need a plan.

Is it a Sun Plant or a Shade Plant?

For some time I assumed it would take a botanist to be able to figure out whether a particular plant would be happiest in sun or in shade. Of course, now I know it is usually much simpler than that.

I swear my gardens must be Irish

And what color is more important in a garden than green?

Making a Garden in the Woods

Woodland gardens are beautiful in every season. Snowdrops, daffodils and other early bloomers give way to lush green ferns and hosta, followed by toadlilies and hardy cyclamen.

Mix It Up in the Garden

Almost everyone agrees that spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in the garden. But I’ve often wondered why so many people associate gardens and gardening only with spring.

Neutrally Brilliant – Purple in the Garden

Yes – purple is a great neutral in the garden – learn how to use it to blend amazing combinations of plants into a harmonious whole.

Nurturing Heirloom Bulbs

Every year the nursery industry introduces new and improved plants. There are some older plants though that were never forgotten by the gardeners who grew them.

Ooooh, Spooky!

About four years ago, I was talking with a well-known Long-Island garden designer. He is originally from England, and keeps up with English garden trends.

Orange isn't Outrageous Anymore!

In fact, used well it can be downright stunning in the garden.

Planting for Maximum Color Impact All Season Long

How to maximize your garden color with plants that have an extra long season of bloom.

Plantings for Privacy

For many of us, the idea of a secret garden has a certain appeal.

Plants as Camouflage

By carefully choosing the right plants for your garden, you can mask a view, create a room within your yard, or simply hide a few small areas of the yard that interfere with your visual pleasure.

Questions and Answers

Answers to customer gardening questions.

Ravishing Reds in the Garden

Certain colors, especially shades of red, seem to perk me up and help me face whatever tasks, problems or rewards are heading my way. Red has the ability to stir up excitement and can stimulate a thrill of anticipation and exhilaration.

Scents-ible Gardens

One of the most important innovations in public gardens in the past few decades is the development of sensory gardens.

Shade Garden

Layout plan for a Shade Garden.

Sneeze-Free Gardening - For those with Allergies

Pollen is everywhere - you can't escape it, so the next best thing to do is to learn how to best live with it. With some careful planting, this is possible for even the most allergy-prone among us.

Some Like It Hot!

There are very few plants that thrive in low light conditions. Who among us hasn’t accidentally killed a garden or houseplant by putting it in a too dark or shady place?

Some Tips for Early Summer Gardens

I just love this time of year. Every day there seems to be several things that surprise and delight me in my garden.

Spring Bed Preparation

The first step is to take a serious look at what plants will be arriving soon. Pay close attention to the conditions they require to grow. Do they need lots of sun or do they take shade?

Steps to Success with Pleione Formosa

Pleione formosana is native to the higher altitudes in China and the Himalayans, but are only hardy to approximately 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit (zone 8-10) in winter in the home garden environment.

Steps to Success with the Egret Flower

Habenaria radiata, Egret Flower, is a hardy terrestrial orchid (meaning that it grows in the ground) that is native to Japan.

The Low-Down on Groundcovers

Groundcovers are the workhorses of the garden. They can form a beautiful living mulch beneath trees, shrubs, and perennials; they can anchor soil on a slope, and some of them are so lovely they can be used as specimens or focal points in garden beds and borders.

Too much rain

I never thought I'd be complaining about too much rain. But the rain this spring is getting to be too much of a good thing.

Trendy Colors for the End of a Millennium

What are the Hot new colors in garden designs.

Using Tough Plants in the Garden

I'd rather fall in love with a tough plant - one that can take whatever I dish out (or fail to) and still thrive. It makes the entire gardening experience more rewarding, and inevitably gives better results.

Vertical Gardening – Looking Up in the Garden

Most gardeners today are dealing with patio or terrace gardens or other small-space gardens. For these gardeners, in particular, vertical accents are essential. When you begin to think vertically, it’s amazing how creative you can become.

What Colors are in Season in Your Garden?

Have you ever noticed how each season seems to have its own set of colors? Going into your garden should inspire you to smile, to feel content.

Which Bulbs Want What? Hardy vs Tender Bulbs

While in general bulbs are easy plants to grow, they can be difficult to understand, simply because there are so many different types.

White makes a Sophisticated Spring Statement

Plans for an all white spring garden.

Winter Gardens in Living Color

I began planning a garden that could be seen from my window that would be as colorful as possible all winter long.

You'll Wonder Where the Yellow Went

Yellow is the perfect color to bring life to the garden. Here’s how.