Along with clear blue skies and cool temperatures, September brings spring planning time. We are always reluctant to admit that summer is over, daylight is decreasing and fall is approaching, but the truth must be faced and like the myth,we must be prepared or suffer the consequences.

Now is the time to get out those photos you took last spring and see how your garden looked in April and May. Perhaps you took notes or perhaps you have to rely on your memory. Maybe you had no bulbs planted at all but would like to give it a try this year. There are some easy bulbs that can be planted that will reward you year after year. I appreciate the bulbs that bloom the earliest the most so I plant them near the front or back door or on the nearby path where I can see them early in the season. The common snowdrop or more properly galanthus nivalis will peek through snow to show its white head as early as March in some areas. They look best in groups of at least 4 to 5 bulbs, planted 3 to 4 inches deep, 2 to 3 inches apart. Left undisturbed, these will die back naturally and multiply by themselves. Other early bloomers are the crocus and chiondoxia also called glory of the snow. Crocus are reliable bloomers in a host of colors. Chiondoxia produce sprays of 5-10 star shaped flowers in blue, pink and white. They are quite tiny and can be placed anywhere. Another favorite is the grape hyacinth or muscari which comes in blue and white. These should be massed or grouped together for the best effect. All of these multiply naturally and can be enjoyed for years.

"And all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils," like Wordsworth, nothing lifts our spirits more than the massed beauty of daffodils. They are wonderful permanent additions to the garden. They will rebloom and multiply if their foliage is allowed to die naturally to refurbish the bulb. With care in ordering, you can have daffodils from early to late spring of all types, from the miniatures such as Golden Bells or Tete a Tete to familiar large King Alfred. There are pure white, white with pink cups, yellow with orange cups, and ruffled daffodils. Some are beautifully scented making your spring bouquet even more desirable. Try planting daffodils among day lilies. As the daffodils finish, the day lilies begin to grow and mask the dying foliage of the daffodils.

Tulips, of course, are always associated with spring and you can plan to have a succession of blooms from early to late spring. Dig your tulips deeply according to directions and fertilize with bulb fertilizer and bone meal to get the most out of your investment. For the best effect, plant in groupings of 3, 5 , 7 or more. Tulips that are planted in a straight line are like a line of isolated soldiers and don't add anything to the overall color effect of the garden. There are double tulips, single large Darwin tulips, lily flowering tulips, species tulips, parrot tulips, and ruffled tulips. I enjoy a Greigii tulip called Red Riding Hood that blooms early midseason. Another favorite tulip is Angelique, a pink ruffled tulip that is a semidouble that bears 2-3 blooms on each stem Many growers advertise perennial tulips but the only ones that have been truly reliable are the small tulips called species tulips. They come in a variety of colors and are best massed because they are only 5 or 6 inches in height. A favorite type of species tulip is Tubergen's Gem. The outer petals are brick red, the inner yellow and blooms midseason. This tulip is eye catching and is used in Williamsburg gardens. The advantage of species tulips is that they have very little foliage, and you can plant annuals around them easily allowing the foliage to die back naturally.

These are just few suggestions. There are other wonderful bulbs such as hyacinths, that come in pink, blue, white, and smell delicious. Another small but lovely bulb is the anemone which comes in blue and white and has daisy like blooms. These are charming when planted in masses in garden border areas. Hyacinthoides or bluebells are wonderful in woodland garden settings planted in drifts. The gardener has many choices and colors on his/her palette. Use them creatively and remember to take pictures to enjoy your artistry!!! You can get information on these bulbs from the following sources: White Flower Farms, www.whiteflowerfarm.com, Van Bourgondien, www.dutchbulbs.com, Breck's, www.brecks.com.

Gardens by Judy,
e-mail: gardensbyjudy@townedigest.com
Garden and landscape evaluations, personalized garden services, creative garden plans, containers planted on site to your specifications.

About the author: Judy is a certified Master Gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension who loves sharing the joys of gardening with others. She helps garden hobbyists solve their problems and is happy to provide information and suggestions about garden planning and maintenance.

Gardens by Judy prides itself in helping the home owner and garden enthusiast plan and maintain that special garden. Judy works cooperatively with the gardener. She evaluates each garden visited and consults with the gardener about his/her goals. She helps in the design of new gardens and in the re-creation and improvement of present gardens. Judy also creates beautiful container gardens to enhance decks, porches and landscapes.