It’s good to see some fresh color among the brown leaves still littering the garden. Crocus are among my favorites of the so-called minor spring bulbs. Whether they’re pale purple, dark purple or striped, crocus always bring a smile to my face because their appearance in my garden means the garden season is finally underway.I also have new hyacinths blooming in front of the living room windows that are beet purple and almost seem to vibrate on cloudy days. I’m drawn to bright, saturated colors in the spring. Like tulips, hyacinth last only season in this lush, tight form. They return for many years, but grow more and more sparse.  So I usually replace them every two years with new bulbs. This gives me an excuse to try different color schemes.Hyacinths are extremely fragrant and when the living room windows are open on warm days their scent drifts through the room and welcomes spring into my home.

So if you decide to plant bulbs next fall, don’t tuck them into obscure corners of your garden. Keep them close.  You’ll appreciate your efforts so much more that way when spring finally comes.