Where to find good bulbs: Any local garden center or store with a garden section will carry fall bulbs and the quality is generally good, but the color selection is often limited. There are wholesale bulb suppliers that will sell large and small quantities to anyone. I have dealt with three: COLORBLENDS, JOHN SCHEEPERS AND NETHERLAND BULB COMPANY. Color Blends has been my preference.
It is not too late to order. However, colors and varieties may be limited the later the order is placed.
As you can see from this picture, I have a lot of bulbs, mixed colors as shown in the pictures above, that are free to anyone that wants them.
Planting: The websites I listed will give planting guides and suggestions. Tulips and Daffodils like to be planted 6 to 8 inches deep. It is the same for Imperials, Camassia, Hyacinth and other larger bulbs. Smaller bulbs such as Crocus, Muscari, Snowflake don't need to be quite as deep.
Remember that these spring flowers are most attractive when planted in fairly tight random groups rather than straight single rows. An easy way to plant is to dig a hole 6 to 8 inches deep and 12 to 16 inches in diameter (or any shape and diameter you want) and space the bulbs 3 to 4 inches apart in the bottom of the hole and then simply burry them.
Most of the "fall" bulbs are very hardy. A tulip can be on top of the ground all winter and it will try to set roots and grow in the spring. Obviously it would not do well under those conditions. When cared for, these bulbs will grow and propagate themselves year to year.
Propagation: Most of the fall bulbs propagate themselves by either bulb division or bulblets, which means that year after year the clump gets tighter and tighter with new bulbs. The tighter the clump, the smaller the blooms will be and eventually they won't bloom at all. Digging and separating is essential to maintaining large healthy blooms. The frequency of digging depends a lot on the bulb. Daffodils can stay in the ground much longer than Tulips and Hyacinths. Whenever digging bulbs of any kind, they should be allowed to complete their growth cycle, which means letting the foliage die naturally. Any seed heads that have formed should be cut so that plant growth is directed to the formation of new bulbs. Most fall bulbs should be stored in a dark, cool, dry and well ventilated area. When dry they are easily cleaned and separated and ready to plant in the fall.
If you have any specific questions leave a comment and we'll find the answer. Good luck designing you spring garden.
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