Van Engelen/John Scheepers are my favorite. Their spring bulbs are of the best quality and the most affordable of all. The customer service is exceptional as well.

The Daffodil Mart is doing business as Brent and Becky's Bulbs now. I also like their bulbs, but the prices have gone up substantially these past couple years. All the accolades must have gone to their head. Their bulb size, especially Lilies and tulips are smaller than before. I still order bulbs from B&B if I cannot get them from VE. Their price for Colchicum is the lowest on the market, but I also received much smaller C. bulbs a couple weeks ago.

VE is notorious for sending Lilies that are not true to name, but the Lilies I received from B&B this spring were infected with virus causing a devastation to my lily collection. I am waiting to see whether they have infected my other bulbs too. I have notified B&B. I was told someone would get in touch with me. So far nothing yet.

I buy my "disposable" bulbs for containers from Lowe's and Home Depot, because I have no expectation that they will return for a second year.

I buy my "bulk" bulbs from John Scheepers/Van Englelen and Brent and Becky's Bulbs. By "bulk" I mean more than three of something, and intended for several years of display in the ground. I understand Colorblends is also very good, but I usually don't need 100 of anything.

I buy my "specialty" bulbs (one-offs and rarities) from Odyssey Bulbs, Telos Rare Bulbs, Far West Bulb Farm and Old House Gardens.

Pitimpinai, the Colchicum bulbs may be universally small this year--I usually get big fat bulbs from Odyssey Bulbs. This year they were smaller than in previous years.

I buy at every source, including the Dollar Store.
Parks Seed had some nice bulbs last year.
White Flower Farms, I've bought some lovely bulbs from them.

If you can wait until November and even past December to plant your bulbs, Brent and Becky will have all those expensive bulbs that did not sell, on sale usually the Monday after Thanksgiving.

VE will have their bulbs on sale early in November, but don't wait if there's specific cultivars that you want. They sold out of many desirable bulbs well before the sale, last year.

The waiting game only works for those of us in warmer zones who like to play a game of bulb roulette and are willing to plan to plant substitutes if the most wanted bulbs are sold out, which they frequently do.

Nell

I live in a "colder" zone, and I planted a lot of end-of-season bulbs from Van Engelen and Brent and Becky's. But then, I'm insane. As soon as the snow storm at Thanksgiving abated and there was only a LITTLE snow on the ground, I was out, teeth chattering and jeans drenched, crawling around in the mud planting (again). Then, just before Christmas, I found bulbs marked down to a dollar a bag at Lowe's. OF COURSE I couldn't pass THAT up! So just before Christmas I was out there doing the same thing. Some of the things I chose from the season-end sales didn't come up, but I knew I was taking a huge chance with them. Most things did come up and bloom.

My philosophy is if the ground isn't frozen so hard you need a jackhammer to break the soil up, it's okay to plant. Like I said, I'm crazy.

ljrmiller-

A DOLLAR A BAG?! I'm joining the insane bulbmonster club...