The garden's biomass is finally dying down enough to make room for bulb planting.. Hostas, asters, and annuals are collapsing into a sodden mass, ready to be cleared away to reveal bare soil. That bit of soil is pure potential for a fragrant spring display...
The basics: Plant bulbs in multiples of 7,9,11....or even better in masses, spaced as if you'd just tossed a handful in a random pattern and then dug holes where the bulbs landed. Never, ever plant in lines...taller bulbs like tulips and narcissus are rigid-looking enough without adding to the military effect by lining them up. Most bulbs do best in full sun; all need really good drainage. If you have heavy soil, plant bulbs in raised beds or pots.....
I always buy bulbs - and nearly everything else for my garden - at local nurseries, not big-box stores. If we don't support our neighborhood nurseries, we won't have them...that said, if your local nursery is out of the bulbs you're looking for, Brent and Becky's Bulbs is a great mail order source.
A couple of suggestions - Narcissus 'Thalia' (left) is a pale, fragrant daffodil from Victorian times. And it just won the 2011 Spring Flowering Bulb of the Year award because it's a good cut flower that happy naturalizes and spreads about the garden.
I love the amber colored, supremely sweet-smelling hyacinth 'Gypsy Queen' and also the navy blue 'Crystal Palace'.
How about this combination of the bright, warm little narcissus 'Falconet' and my favorite orange tulip 'Princess Irene'?....All bulb photos courtesy of Brent and Becky's Bulbs..
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