By: Kathy Purdy of Cold Climate Gardening

As a busy mother with a large yard, I really appreciate the easy adaptability of flowering bulbs. After a long winter, the earliest flowers dispel the lingering effects of cabin fever and save my sanity. My children excitedly report the discovery of each new blossom. And with a little bit of work, I can expand a small initial investment into a spectacular display, and that makes my wallet happy!

Early spring is the time to start thinking about the bulbs you will plant in the fall. As winter turns into spring, look for the areas where the snow melts first. Take pictures of these locations. Use these photos as a memory aid when it comes time to plant snowdrops, winter aconites and crocus in autumn. They will bloom soonest where the sun warms the soil first. If you already have these small bulbs, the best time to divide and replant them is when they're done blooming but before the leaves die down. This is an economical way to increase your spring display.

Daffodils are another spring-flowering bulb that is easily multiplied by division. Again, wait until the leaves have almost -- but not quite -- died back. Carefully dig them up, separate them, and replant at the same depth. Take care not to plant them where you will mow early in the season. Daffodils need a good two months to let their leaves die down naturally.

Tulips are gorgeous, no doubt about it, but they're not quite as amenable to a repeat performance. Choose varieties that are labeled as good perennializers, and make sure the soil drains freely. Tulip bulbs are, unfortunately, a favorite food of rodents -- yet another reason why they may not show up for a second spring.

For a wonderful autumn surprise, plant some of my favorites, the little-known colchicums. These bulbs send up leaves in spring, which die down in late spring to early summer. Sometime after Labor Day, the purplish-pink or white flowers emerge -- with no leaves in sight! Plant them in front of your foundation shrubbery in mid-August. They will add a fresh and unexpected element to your fall garden.