Humans’ love of flowering bulbs goes back to prehistoric times. Ancient Egyptians planted onions, and early civilizations on the Mediterranean island of Crete prized saffron from a variety of crocus. During the 1640s, tulips were all the rage in Europe and its many strains are still prized today. The lily is closely associated with Christianity and has come to symbolize the Virgin Mary.

People today still love these flowers and plant bulbs indoors and out. Generally gardeners plant bulbs in the fall to turn out beautiful blossoms in the spring. The following article describes various popular bulbs for your outdoor garden and tips to care for them.

There are a few considerations to make when purchasing bulbs. Decide where you want to buy them – garden centers, mail order catalogues or specialty high-end nurseries. When buying them in person, make sure the bulbs have a firm neck with no visible stem growth – if the tip of the shoot is present, it’s ok to buy. Also, you’ll want to see that the surface of the bulb is clean, and when held, it should feel firm and somewhat heavy for its size. It’s also a good idea to see that there is no root growth apparent as well.

Tulips are perhaps the most popular of the bulbs. There are literally hundreds of different varieties. They bloom in spring and are best planted in November and December. They do best in full sunlight.

Crocuses are traditionally planted to bloom after snowdrops, but before tulips. There are many varieties available in many colors. All are wine glass-shaped with six petals. There are both spring and autumn blooming varieties, so you will have to decide what works best for your garden and climate.

Dalias are normally seen in a late summer garden. They generally do well in well drained soil with some sunlight. They come in many colors and varieties, and are a great choice for flower arrangers who work with cut flowers from the garden. The decorative and pompon-shaped varieties are quite attractive.

Peruvian Lilies grow well in relatively dry light soil exposed to sun and light shade. They are available in yellow, orange, pink, red and even purple. Planting time is March / April, and they bloom in June and July. The only reason you see them so seldom in gardens is because they produce few flowers the first year. Be patient! They are worth waiting for!

Begonias come in many varieties. The variety mentioned here tends to flower by late June through September. They flourish in sun or light shade, but they require a soil lush with organic matter. They work great for borders or hanging baskets.

Hyacinths are also available in many varieties. Cynthella Hyacynths are particularly attractive, but few plants rival it for sheer beauty with its flowering stalks of either pink, purple, yellow, red, white and even blue. They thrive in sun or light shade.