PATIENCE is a virtue. And when it comes to planting spring-blooming bulbs, patience also has its rewards.

There's nothing easier than planting bulbs. Even a beginner can create a breathtaking spring garden by investing just a little time this fall. The hard part is waiting until spring for the beautiful blooms!

Spring-flowering bulbs must be planted in fall or early winter because they require a long, cool dormant period. Cool temperatures spark the process that causes bulbs to flower.

Bulbs can be planted in climates as warm as Zones 9 and 10 (click here for a zone map). However, southern gardeners need to select varieties that are suitable to their short, mild winters. Southerners may also need to purchase pre-cooled bulbs and re-plant each fall.

There are several things to consider before purchasing bulbs. Each type varies in size, color and duration of bloom. The best way to take advantage of the broad selection is to spend an hour or two planning.

Marsha M. of Shreveport, Louisiana selects bulbs that are firm to the touch, clean, heavy for their size and without root growth at the base. "Size also helps," she says. "A simple rule of thumb is that large bulbs will produce big blooms."

It's best to plant bulbs as soon as you get them, but not before cooler fall temperatures arrive. Bulbs can be stored in your refrigerator for several weeks. (Remove any fruit from the refrigerator, especially apples. Ripening fruit gives off a gas that will kill the flowers inside the bulbs.)

Ideally, bulbs should be planted 6 weeks before the ground freezes. This gives them plenty of time for root development. If you've missed this window, go ahead and plant them anyway.

Plant bulbs 6 to 8 inches deep, water them well and add mulch to retain moisture. If you have backyard critters that like to dig up bulbs right after you plant them, try laying chicken wire over the bed.

To create a greater impact of color, plant bulbs in clusters. This makes the blooms look more like bouquets. Plant similar bulbs in a triangular pattern with one point of the triangle facing the front of the garden. When they bloom, it'll look like you planted more flowers than you actually did.

"Planting several varieties of bulbs with different bloom times can extend the display over several weeks," adds Marsha.

After the flowers fade, keep the leaves on the plant until they're brown, or 6 weeks have passed since blooming. The leaves feed the bulb so it can flower next spring. Tulip blooms should be clipped off after they fade so they don't go to seed. Daffodils can be left alone.

To draw attention away from fading leaves, plant flowering annuals and other perennials like hostas or daylilies around the bulbs. They'll come on about the time the other leaves begin to look ragged.

This summer's flower show may just be ending...but now's the time to think about color for next spring!