You don't need to water them regularly as when they are growing and photosynthesizing with the remaining leaves, but you certainly don't want the area to just get all dry in case you're in really dry conditions.

I tend to want to water them because my hope is that they continue to live and return next year, instead of dying and having to be replenished.

Thanks. They all seem to come back whether I watered/fed them after blooming (except tulips need regular replacing), but sometimes not as showy display. Some years more leaves and less flowers so wondered if they didn't get enough nourishment the previous summer. Then other years they're gorgeous. I divide the daffs when they get too bunched but still don't do extra feeding or water.

Not the end of the world if you do nothing...but I like to thank mine with an end of blooming basic balanced feed. Removing the seed heads probably has a greater effect.

I do remove all the flower stalks. Obviously spring bulbs are long gone but most of the glads still have full green leaves so I will water and fertilize until they die back and see if next summer they're more floriferous (although there are so many variables between now and next summer, so not a very exact experiment). We've had very little rain this summer so they might enjoy the drink : ) I always quit watering bulbs when I cut the last flower stalk, even in drought.

If it's been a good growing season for spring bulbs (enough rain but not too much, cooler temperatures) I notice the bulbs are larger and the next year there are more flowers. If it gets hot fast or its dry they go dormant much earlier and I feel like the bulbs are more likely to split.

Yeah, I will agree with that, katob - there are A LOT of variables which affect plants...but hey, in our heads, it is always going to be better next year, right?

I have always had reliable return for daffodils until I read that they usually don't.

My gardens peaked out at about 450 plants a few years ago then I began losing the battle with age and that my arms are getting shorter. I don't know how many are still there but in my mind, they are always in bloom and there are no weeds..