Bounteous bluebells

oh, I love bluebells! They're the spirit of woodland. How many did you plant? *s* my mum had about a dozen bulbs, after some years she gave me fifty, i planted them, gave away about a hundred and still had plenty left

I've got a love/hate relationship with them Franl, they are absolute thugs and soon after they've appeared, the leaves flop outwards in a circle about the plant, and the leaves are very heavy and thick, overpowering more delicate plants around them and when the flowering has finished, it is very difficult to carry out any gardening work, because treading on the leaves is supposed to be detrimental to the plant gathering it's energy for next year's display.
We inherited the garden which was totally overgrown (see my blog) and I am trying to introduce plants like Hostas which begin their growth at about the same time the Bluebells are finishing, but it's a struggle trying not to destroy the Bluebells at the same time. But if they are the only plant in the area, it looks absolutely dreadful while they are dying down.

nods, know what you mean: any one-plant environment would look a bit bare when that plant isn't out. I'd never noticed the flopping leaves, but it might be a survival mechanism; splat the opposition before it becomes a rival. could you put a corral around new plants to give them the change to get established before they get mugged? once they're bigger, they should be able to resist better.

I'm trying to concentrate on plants that won't try to compete wih the Blubells, but begin their growth after the Blubells are finished. Less labour intensive, that way!

lol indeed - "to everything there is a season" - just finding what'll fit the timing, the available space and the woodland theme