Since no one else has responded I'll give it a try. I'm not real good at explaining things but here it goes.

When you plant bulbs pay attention to depth and you can plant lots of bulbs that bloom at different times in the same bed. Example if one bulb is to be planted 6 in deep plant it, cover with a little dirt. Take another bulb that is to be planted at 4 inches off set it from the one you just planted so isn't directly on top of it and cover it. Hope that makes sense. Stair step the bulbs according to planting depth. You may have to use markers as you are planting to remember where bulbs are so you don't plant on top of them. Plus don't overdo it. Leave plenty of space between plants to multiply. The first year it may look a bit odd but once the plants start to fill in you will be cursing yourself for planting too much.

Here's a few ideas of bulbs and perennials that I am familiar with. Starting with what blooms first. Bloom times overlap so you have constant bloom from spring till fall. As one plant is done blooming something else is starting.

Crocus - bulb
tulips - bulb
Daffodils - bulb
Grape Hyacinthia - small bulbs
Lily of the Valley - small bulbs - can be invasive.
Iris - Rhizomes- Many different kinds tall bearded, Japanese, Siberian, Spuria, Dwarf bearded. All different sizes and bloom times.
Asiatic Lilies - bulb- these come in many sizes from tall to pixie, and have a variety of bloom times.
Oriental Lilies - bulb - also come in many sizes and have a variety of bloom times.
Shasta Daisies - rooted plant or plant from seed. Blooms mid summer to fall. Many different types of Shasta Daisies as well.
Day lilies - Hundreds of different day lilies with many sizes and bloom times.
Mini Hollyhocks - rooted plant or plant from seed. These get about 4 ft tall. I just received this plant as a trade this year and I am impressed, it has been blooming since mid may and still going strong.

I'm sure there is a lot more I haven't named, like hostas, and cannas. But, you get the idea that there are a lot of choices.

I would suggest writing down plants that you like. Make sure you pick plants suitable for the spot. If the spot is full sun you don't want a hosta there. If it is mostly shade you don't want Lilies there. You will also want to know the bloom time, spring, summer or fall. You need to know the height of the plant as well as the width when it is full grown.

Draw a design of your list putting the taller plants in the back and the shorter ones up front. Try to envision as the daffodils die you want to hide their dying greenery with something that is getting ready to bloom. Day lilies or shasta daisies are great planted in front of daffodils and tulips.

I would also suggest searching this site for plants you like to find out more about their care and the different kinds of various plants.

I think you will find that an all bulb flower bed just won't bloom long enough you will have to fill in with rooted plants.

I hope I have been of some help and haven't discouraged you. There is a lot to learn and this is a great site to learn from.

Plus if you plant something and don't like where it is planted or how long it blooms you can always dig it up and replace it with something else.

Happy Gardening
Andrea

I too am wanting to do the same thing you are so I will be watching this thread for replies. The space I'm wanting to plant is 38 feet long by 5 feet wide and it's in the front of my house. Just finished planting a mixture of Marigolds and Petunias as because of the late time in the year that's basically all the nursery had left! LOL.

Will be preparing the bed better and then planting all my bulbs this fall so I'm curious to see how your's turns out. If you can post some photos please.

ttfn
Mystic.

I would avoid planting an entire bed of bulbs (unless you grow edible garlic and onion and do not care about the apperance of your bed :)). You would have to deal with dying foliage. It will look ugly most of the time. I interplant my bulbs with perennials and shrubs to hide yellowing leaves of bulbous plants.

GREAT advice timberohio & alina (wish I'd known that back in 2005). I purchased my first home in the Fall of 2005 and went "bulb" crazy. I gave absolutely no thought to how tall a plant would grow, or what it might look like next to a different plant, or how long the bloom would last and by Spring 2006 I had so many mixed-matched flowers the front of my house looked like it was infested with weeds (only it was actually bulb foliage & blooms). Im taking things much slower now and only planting one or two "rooted" plants at a time - waiting to see what it looks like when its bloom season comes around - then planting around it with bulbs if I like it...if not, Im moving them to a different location.

jb