Ina Garten Features These Classic Blooms In Her Lively Spring Garden

Ina Garten just gave us a peak inside her early spring garden on Instagram, and it’s already flourishing with blooms of leucojum and yellow magnolia.

“I'm loving all the little surprises of Spring! #leucojum #yellowmagnolia,” Garten wrote in the caption of her post.

And a look at the comment section confirms that everyone else does, too. Dozens of users wrote about their own experiences with yellow magnolia and leucojum, from their wedding bouquets to their mother’s gardens. 

“I used to crawl under a neighbors hedge and pick at least one,” one wrote. “She would have taken her broom to me if she knew.”

There are plenty of reasons to grow leucojum, also known as the Summer Snowflake. Their delicate and sweet appearance adds a touch of elegance to an outdoor space, and since they’re early bloomers, they’re known as the harbingers of spring. Plus, they have a relatively long blooming period, so they provide weeks of beauty without too much maintenance. Plus, they're deliciously fragrant and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. In folklore, leucojum flowers are connected with purity, innocence, and hope—establishing your garden as a place of calm and serenity (and maybe even a hub for manifestation).

If you want to grow leucojum in your own garden, choose a spot with partial shade to full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Their bulbs need to be planted at least 3 to 4 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart, so you’ll need some space. Other than that, they’re pretty easy-going plants—they don’t need excessive fertilization or staking. Simply don’t overcrowd them or underwater them, and you should have a collection of thriving flowers in no time.

We can’t forget Garten’s other featured bloom: the yellow magnolia. Like leucojum, yellow magnolia attracts pollinators along with birds, which adds to the biodiversity of your garden (and brings you the summery sound of chirping). Also like leucojum, yellow magnolia blooms in the early spring, often before other blooming trees and shrubs. They smell divine, and their vibrant yellow hues give a bright, sunny energy to your garden. 

Like leucojum, yellow magnolia is pretty easy to care for. It generally doesn’t require heavy fertilization or pruning, ideal for those who like to let a bit of wildness grow in their garden. Simply choose a location that receives full sun to partial shade, plant it in the early spring or fall, and keep the soil moist.

We can always count on Garten for any inspiration we need, no matter the season, from the kitchen to the backyard.