Could there be a better time of year to think about the cool days of spring than August? If you can manage the heat, take a walk around your garden. Try juggling a cool drink along with pen and paper. The drink will enhance the slow stroll and will keep you cool. The pen and paper are to jot notes about locations to plant spring bulbs.

  Take notice of where a spring show of bulbs would look good. Make a note with a circle on the paper. Also roughly log how large an area it is. Bulbs are the easiest garden specimens to grow. Everything is contained in the bulb: the roots, leaves, stem, flower, even food to get them growing. They are quite amazing.

  The size of the flower is directly related to the size of the bulb. Choose a big bulb to get a big flower. Quality counts. Place your order for spring blooming bulbs early. New varieties and popular old-timers can sell out quickly.

  You will be happier with your flowers next spring if you plant the bulbs in clusters. A number of bulbs are at the top of their game huddled together. They look a bit forlorn if they are stranded by themselves hit or miss. Pitching a handful of bulbs onto the ground is a good way to get a natural spread. Just confine your tossing to a limited area and repeat in sections down the border.

  Imagine an intense yellow daffodil with a red-edged cup, but with deep center ruffles of red and yellow. Now picture the whole flower doubled and you have an idea of what the Narcissus 'Tahiti' looks like.

  This rookie daffodil has large flower heads bobbing on top of strong stems. It is already in the big leagues, having won the prestigous Award of Garden Merit from Britain's Royal Horticultrue Society.

  When you drive up to your house, scout where a half dozen or more of 'Tahiti' daffodils would stand out. Wouldn't the ruffled red and gold flowers look striking if you used them en masse near your front door? Don't forget to plant extras so you can take a fistful into the house and plop it into a jar. The fragrance and color will pull a tired room out of the winter doldrums. The upshot of your off-season charting is a springtime game plan bursting with color.

Coach Anne, posted July 31, 2007---