If you forgot to plant bulbs last fall, you can celebrate spring with Smith and Hawken’s collection of preforced tulips and narcissus. Pop them in the ground or in a container, sprinkle some slow-release fertilizer and wait for the show (from $21 for 12 bulbs; www.smithandhawken.com).
For July fireworks, put lilies (try Asiatic for some color, calla for some bling) in the ground now. Make sure you plant them in a sunny spot with moist soil. They like their roots cool and their faces hot. Add lots of compost or manure to the soil to help them survive hot weather. Check out the selection at Brent and Becky’s Bulbs (from $7 for 5;www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com).
If you’re the hands-on type, go to your local nursery and choose your own selection. Try flowers you’ve never planted before, like dahlias or cyclamen. Look for the firmest bulbs with no mold or fungus spots. Just don’t forget to water.
