Establish a bloom sequence between early spring and early summer by selecting varieties from each of the four periods. Alliums such as golden garlic or giant onion, gladiolus, lily species, or tuberous begonia. The declining bulb foliage can be hidden with a variety of other plants that can add color once the bulbs finish flowering. Most bulb plantings are more effective if they are used in conjunction with other materials that serve as a background for their bright flower colors. Evergreens in particular supply a consistent and uniform backdrop which does not compete with the flowers.
Yellow daffodils are especially attractive when planted under a white birch.
Snowdrops contrast well with evergreen foliage, and the blue of grape hyacinth adds color to the ground under yellow forsythia. Robert Nuss is a horticulturist at Penn State. He coordinates all extension horticulture programs. He has bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in ornamental horticulture and has been on the Penn State faculty since 1966.