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Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard

The warmth you feel on a springtime day is a perfect complement to the deep yellow of ‘King Alfred’ daffodils and the welcome you can expect at an entry door.

Of all the garden flowers, bulbs are probably the most magical: As we fall deeper into winter doldrums, they wait quietly unnoticed and dormant beneath the soil for months. Then just when we’re desperately ready for (and in need of) a great garden pick-me-up, they seemingly explode into a blast of color that brings back life to our yards, adding curb appeal to our homes and signaling the start of an exciting new growing season.

If you’ve never planted a bulb before, be careful: It’s easy to get hooked – and even easier to get planting. (What other garden beauty lets you just drop it the ground, cover it up and then leave it alone for months?) In fact, the hardest part about planting bulbs is waiting for the bloomin’ show to start!

As easy as bulb planting is, there are still a few important points to know. For starters, you have to plant in fall to get that glorious color come spring (and beyond). Yes, it may seem odd to spend time digging in the garden in autumn, only to walk away from a planting bed that barely looks touched when your work is finished. But once the warmer weather returns, you’ll be greatly rewarded. Depending on where you live (and provided the ground isn’t frozen), bulbs can be planted as early as mid-August and as late as January. (See the regional map for suggested times on when to plant bulbs in your area.)