Most bulbs do well in containers.... use good potting soil with bone meal and plenty of drainage. Just leave them outside... the cold is good for them unless you want to "force" them.... I planted a large pot with different layers and types of bulbs.... it was very successful, as the early ones died down, they were replaced by the next layer. However, I don't usually keep them for a second season, just plant them in the garden when they are finished.

Westgate's comments are accurate -- unless you fertilize the pot very heavily, the resultant bulbs continue to diminish. Daffodils will repeat, but tulips are hopeless in my hands after the first year. Putting them into the ground results in small, if any, blooms. Of course, I can't just throw them away ...

Jess, if you want to layer bulbs, a deeper standing container may be more appropriate than a windowbox container. My bulbs are in various pots such as 12" wide x 18" high, smallest being 6" wide x 8" high. Basically, plant bigger bulbs such as tulips & daffodils about 6" deep, cover with 2" of soil, then plant smaller bulbs like muscari (grape hyacinths), crocus, & scilla, and cover with 3-4" of soil. Sprinkling each planting layer with bonemeal will help feed the developing plants. For best dramatic effect you want to use lots of bulbs, spacing them about an inch apart but not touching each other.

I plant pansies and violas on top so there's something pretty to look at before the bulbs come up in the spring. You don't have to worry about protecting these bulbs -- they're cold hardy and many need the cold to bloom. I leave them outside fully exposed to the elements.

For more info, check out the Bulb forum.

Thanks for the great tips and advice everyone! I'm looking forward to planting this week now that I have a better idea of what I'm doing ;)