I reworked a bed last year that has a number of small alliums that
grow to be about a foot tall and have lavender heads of about 2 to 2 ½ inches. I don’t know what kind they
are: I have never seen any in catalogs that fit this description. The first
were given to me by my aunt who’s now been gone for over 20 years.

I tried to dig them up last summer with little success. They
mostly snapped off, leaving the bulb, which then I couldn’t find. The bulbs are
about the size of a marble. I figured I’d killed them, was happy I’d saved at
least one; and went ahead and did my new plantings. The bed now has Japanese
Forest Grass and mini hostas in the foreground where the alliums were.

Though “are” is more correct, because they didn’t die, they
are baaack!

I’ll have some time before the JFG fills in, and I can
temporarily lift the mini hostas.

What’s the secret to getting these out successfully? I’d prefer to keep at least
some for sentimental reasons and replant into a different bed. I don’t want to find these growing here again
next year. Thanks for your advice.