Planting bulbs in autumn seems magical come spring when your new tulips, daffodils or hyacinth flowers pop up, but it’s not all magic, you will actually have to plan for successful fall bulb planting.

First of all, plan for your location. Many bulb planting tips (such as the ones below) will apply as a general rule, but you can’t beat local know-how. A local nursery can help you plan for the best bulb planting adventure or check out the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center/ North America to learn about planting bulbs in your region.

Plant in the fall anytime before the first …read more

Dahlias are the darling of the summer bulb set. These showy, colorful flowers make their appearance mid-summer and dazzle gardeners until early fall. How much do you know about these beautiful specimens? Here are a few facts about Dahlias:

* There are 30 species of Dahlias and more than 20,000 cultivars.
* Dahlias originated in Mexico, but became popular when the plant were imported to Holland in the late 19th century.
* The Aztec culture used Dahlias for food, decorations, and in their ceremonies.
* The Dahlia is named after Anders Dahl, an 18th century Swedish botanist.
* Dahlias thrive in full …read more

One of my earliest garden memories is of helping my grandfather dig up the canna bulbs in the fall and trimming, dividing, and storing them for winter. Cannas are a tropical plant and will over-winter in the garden in only the very warmest areas of the United States. In other areas, gardeners need to dig the bulbs up in the fall before the first frost and replant them in late spring after the threat of frost has gone.

Below are a few facts about cannas:
* Cannas produce pink, orange, red, yellow, or white flowers.
* These plants have large, …read more

Are you looking to add summer color to your garden without spending a lot of money? Or perhaps, like me, you just moved into a new house that is devoid of bulbs and perennials? Bulbs Direct.com has a current offer that will give a jump-start to your garden.

For just $9.99 with free shipping, you can order 160 bulbs that can be planted from now until the end of May in growing zones 4-11. Included in the offer are 40 Allium Molys (which bloom in May), 20 Iris Hollandica (which bloom in June), 60 deep blue Brodiaea Queen …read more