Before you put your gardening tools away, let’s talk about planting some bulbs now that will really jazz up your yard in the spring.

Plant snowdrops before the ground freezes and you should see them blooming when the Tigers are headed to spring training camp. Snowdrops show their color before all the patches of snow have melted from your yard, and are a good choice for naturalizing and can even tolerate a little shade. What’s more, they’re deer-proof. The variety considered best for naturalizing is Galanthus elweii, or giant snowdrop. These have pretty ivory-white flowers tipped with green.

Batting next will be the crocus species. Crocuses will flower about the time you’re getting out that spring coat. They can be planted directly in the lawn or a woodland area, in sun to partial shade. When planted in the lawn you’ll have to put off mowing a week or two. As far as I know, the deer and squirrels don’t bother them, though I won’t guarantee it! Crocuses are hardy in all Michigan zones and reach about 4 inches tall.

For a little taller crocus, look for Crocus vernus, aka “Wild Crocus of the Alps.” Some of these hybrids have been around since the horse-and-buggy and grow another inch taller than crocuses.

As your crocuses fade and you’re revving up the mower, the daffodils should be starting to bloom. When it comes to selecting daffodils, there are more varieties than ice cream flavors at the World’s Fair.

Trumpet daffodils are popular for their trumpet-shaped flowers. They come in solids such as Marieke (deep yellow) and bicolors like goblet, and lemon glow (lemony yellow flowers with a deeper yellow circling the flower “cup”).

If you want your bulbs to really stand out in a flower bed, consider this combination: a yellow daffodil, such as Bravoure, and the purple-flowered muscari, or purple hyacinth. Hyacinths make a nice border and really bring out the brilliant yellows of the daffodils.

Next up are the tulips. During the Dutch tulip bulb mania of the 1600s, the price of tulips behaved much like today’s gasoline: It was always going up! Speculators pushed up the price of tulip bulbs to ridiculous highs. The price finally came down like a house of cards in a stiff wind. Fortunately, today we can buy rather large quantities of bulbs at reasonable prices (unlike gas).

Tulips come in different shapes, sizes and colors, so choose them like you might pick `colors for your kitchen or wallpaper for the bathroom. For instance, the elegant lily tulip may look best in the foreground of a modern home or cottage. On the other hand, giant Darwins, introduced to this country by John Scheepers in 1951, are bold and beautiful and may look best in front of a picket fence or large, older home.

Bringing up the rear and flowering into summer are alliums. These are a novelty because of their huge heads and peculiar shapes, yet they seem to be the perfect garden choice. Their leafless stems will rise above your perennials to show off their white, purple or lavender blooms. There are many interesting varieties, including gladiator, purple sensation, and hair.

I’ve just touched on the popular bulbs. There are other interesting varieties that will nicely blend into the above mix. Chionodox, or ‘glory of the snow,’ is an early bloomer, very hardy, and a carpet of it looks great around a birch or other hardwood tree. Scilla is another early-spring bloomer and works well in a rock garden or for naturalizing. Just be sure to check the hardiness zone on the variety you’re considering.

All of the above bulbs are planted in the fall and are hardy to zone 4, which includes most of Michigan. And, just in case you’re a little rusty on bulb planting basics, here are a few tips:

• Purchase firm, dry bulbs.
• Plant bulbs in the late fall before the ground freezes.
• Provide good drainage.
• Use a bulb planter for easier planting of large quantities.
• Feed with a low-nitrogen fertilizer, such as bonemeal.
• Plant in clumps, in a mass, or as a border for the best visual appeal.

• Plant bulbs to their proper depth.

  Sources for Quality Bulbs:
  McClure & Zimmerman, “For the dedicated bulb enthusiast.” mzbulb.com, 800-883-6998;
  John Scheepers, Inc., johnscheepers.com, 860-567-0838.

  Neil Moran writes about gardening from his home in Kincheloe, MI.