Ideas on Planting Plans?

Ok, so I read the article by gloria125 about Daffodils and decided it was high time to get some. While I was ordering them I also ordered some other bulbs. I've never planted fall bulbs. I have an idea of where I'd like to put all of these, but thought I'd ask here first to see if I'd get some more creative ideas. The bulbs and auger should be here early next week and I'm itching to get started!

I ordered....
Dutch Master Daffodil - 25 - solid yellow - mid spring bloom
Fondant Hyacinths - 15 - pink - early spring bloom
Ruby Giant Crocus - 100 - purple - early spring bloom
Toronto Multiflowering Tulips - 40 - pink - late spring bloom

I have a cottage-type garden, so even if I kinda just throw these in without a plan they'll look ok, lol. I was thinking of putting some in areas where my perennials are late or slow to come up (Butterfly Bush, Hostas, etc). I'd also like to put some where I don't have a lot of color in the spring (around my fruit trees, near my daylilies, etc.).

So, any suggestions? Should I plant a few Daffs near the trees, Tulips near the Butterfly Bush, Hyacinths near the Hostas....or should I plant some of each and try to get a succession of blooms? Is there really that much difference in early, mid and late spring with these bulbs?

Will using the auger hurt my fruit tree's roots? They are young trees, we just planted them 2 years ago. Apple, plum and pear. The ad for the auger said it's tip had a "root cutter" on it. I don't want to kill the tree to plant a bulb.

Thanks for any and all suggestions, I really appreciate it. I'm so excited about these bulbs. I think it was what Gloria had said in that article, something like "planting bulbs is planting for the next generation."

I wouldn't plant right up against the trees, out towards the dripline or if they are young a little further out. That looks more natural and also gives them a chance to spread. The thing to remember about bulbs is that the spent foiliage has to ripen before you cut out. It gets a little ugly and some people can't wait to cut it down. so i think putting them around the later perennials is a great idea, cause they will hide the foilage of the bulbs.
the crocus will be super early. The other times for blooms are all relative, depending on your specific location and climate. You can't go by the month listed by the bulb suppliers as a reliable guide of when they will bloom exactly. as far as early,mid and late, fairly accurate but as far as time in bloom some are short and some are longer.

Thanks for the tips. After I wrote that post I did start thinking about how far from the tree trunk I should plant the bulbs, so that was a great tip! We have an area of mulch under each tree and I'll just plant the bulbs at the outer edge of that...that'll give the trees room to grow and all should still look natural in a few years.

I have read up some on bulbs and I do know I have to leave the foliage so they still get nutrients, but thanks for mentioning that! :)

Definitely plant in groups of 5's not singly or in a row. Makes for a natural planting. Hate to see tulips, daffodils planted in a line like soldiers!

Ok, no soldiers in a row, I promise! These are the tips I need. My bulbs should be arriving today and my auger should be getting here by the end of the week.

Have your bulbs arrived yet? Such fun when they start rolling in! Sounds like you've ordered good quantities of good varieties to get you well on the road to bulb addiction, LOL! Something I like to do for a pleasing effect is echo plantings of the same color or variety here and there in drifts of various sizes, clumped as sedum37 very wisely recommended. Also remember that tulips like to be as dry as possible during summer dormancy. I've found many return reliably from year to year given these conditions, but have had nothing but leaves the 2nd year in areas of the garden where I must water. Most spring bulbs prefer to be dry in summer, but tulips are more demanding of it. I really like using bulbs under deciduous trees where they get the spring sun, and the trees suck up all the moisture in summer. Daffodil foliage hangs on for a long time after bloom, so those are the ones I always like to combine with hostas and daylilies to hide the ugly leaves; the rest seem to disappear quickly. Oh, and on hyacinths, I love having them near porches and entrances, where the scent greets you and visitors as you enter and exit.

Have fun, and good luck!
Neal

Thanks Neal,
We did get our bulbs and got them planted just the other day. I even did a bit of layering with them, nothing too fancy, just putting some crocus over the other bulbs. I put the crocus and hyacinths close to the sidewalk/porch where they could be seen and smelled to be enjoyed the most. The daffs and tulips are also in my front garden, we decided to either skip doing the trees this year or to get more bulbs (I have to go look at prices soon). I tried to mix the bulbs in...a bunch of daffs here, tulips there...so that I'll have different blooming times in the same area. Hopefully my perennials will cover the foliage of from the flowers once they start to look icky, but if not I guess I'll just live with it! And you're right...planting bulbs is addicting! It's so funny because most times you plant something and right away you have color...but there's something exciting about the anticipation of all of this! Especially at the one corner of my porch...we're not sure but we think I accidentally grabbed hyacinths when I meant to grab tulips...we won't know till next April probably.

If you don't mind planting late, its always fun to get in on the 50%off sales at Brent&Beckys and VanEngelen for picking up "extras".

It will be fun to see what shows up at the corner of your porch, lovely either way :)

Yepper, I'm watching the thread about when the fall sales start! VE has a lot to offer, somehow I missed them when I was looking for bulbs. They have great prices too.