Hi there... I posted a similar question earlier...however we live in different areas...but I have amaryllis' (pasted down in my family) and I don't have to dig them up (unless I want to split them) all I've read says they are one of the hardy bulbs to grow... hope it helps.. I'm new too!

I think it would be an enormous challenge to keep a bulb-only bed looking great all year. Most bulbs, especially spring bulbs, put up foliage and blooms for a short time and then die down slowly and unattractively. Most people plant perennials and shrubs in with bulbs so there is always something blooming as other things fade.

It's not too late to plant dahlias. Pot them up now and let them grow indoors until your last frost date, then plant outside. Pinch when they have 3 pairs of leaves.

lyoung_gardener: Thank you! I've looked them up and they look very pretty. I saw your post, but didn't see a zone, so I wasn't sure what area you were in. Are you in a zone 6 or cooler climate?

ladychroe: I didn't want an all bulb garden :) I have plants in it, now (violets, junipers, sedum, buttercups, aster, foxglove and ornatmental grass (plus a couple of lillies and a creeping ground cover) in it. But, I'd really like to have lots of bulbs that will bloom at various times throughout the year.

I think we are passed the last frost in lower NY. But, do they have to be dug up each year? Or will they come back on their own, if left in the ground? Thanks :)

Here's a very general rule of thumb - the majority of spring blooming bulbs (tulips, narcissus, crocus, hyacinths, etc) orginate from the northern hemisphere and will be hardy for you and can be left in the ground. Most summer blooming bulbs - dahlias, glads, etc. - originate from the southern hemisphere and even subtropical areas and are not winter hardy in colder zones and should be lifted and stored at the end of the season. Lilies are an exception and are generally quite cold hardy. Confusion will exist because written texts often don't address the complete range of climate conditions we can experience and because the term "bulbs" is often used to describe a whole lot of different root or root-like storage systems. For example, most iris are lumped in the 'bulb' category even though they emerge from a variety of root systems, some of which bear no resemblance to any bulb and are not considered bulbous at all :-) Same with daylilies or the bleeding heart mentioned in a prior posting.

Your best bet is to get a good reference book on bulbs, tubers, corms, etc. and use that as a guide.

This is not a very scientific answer, but if I were you, just starting out, I would begin to pay close attention to what is growing in other peoples' gardens that you really like. Start a little notebook and make note of the WHEN (the only way you'll ever get that information for your specific area) and WHERE (shade or sun, for example. And what else is planted nearby.). If you see something you like and don't know what it is, don't hesitate to ask the owner. In my experience, gardeners are the most generous people you can imagine with information.
Then, purchase a few bulbs at a time. Try them out, see what they do, and know that you will probably want to move them around a time or two before you find just the right place for them. (Just mark their spots so you can find them easily again.) Trying new things and experimentation are part of the fun of gardening.

Also, keep in mind that bulbs are ordered a season ahead. So, right now, as spring flowering bulbs are doing (or finishing) their thing, make a list of what you want (and where you want it) for next year and get your order in. Most bulb companies give a discount for early orders. It's much easier to think of what you want when all the glories of the season are fresh on your mind. I know that means it will be a year before you see results of your thought and research, but in the end, you'll be happier for it.

In the meantime, here are some other things to think about:
In GENERAL, different varieties of the same type of bulb usually flower at slightly different times. Therefore, if you order a variety of kinds, you'll have a longer season of bloom.

You're usually better off to plant a nice group of bulbs of one kind all together in one clump, instead of spreading them out over your whole garden. In other words, Plant 3 lily bulbs of a kind in ONE square foot, rather than planting one here, one ten feet away, and another ten feet away. Plant them in a triangular shape, rather than in a straight row, for a more natural look.

And finally, if something works really well for you, plant more of it next year! :)

Kudos, Donna, for some very sound bits of advice.