Fritillaria. This diverse group of plants comes in a range of colours and heights and produces lots of bell-shaped flowers. To be on the safe side, plant the bulbs on an angle. This will protect the "hole" at the top of the bulb from collecting water, which can lead to rotting. Plant them as early as you can in the fall and be sure to check the zoning as they aren't all hardy in this area. There is a type of fritillaria for just about any growing condition, so be sure to choose a suitable variety. As a bonus, the bulb has a strong odour, which keeps the squirrels at bay.

Grape hyacinth (Muscari). There are many varieties of these small blue or white grape-like clusters that grow in a tight spike. They bloom in May and June, can tolerate sun or part shade and do well in dry conditions, such as near that pesky maple tree. "We planted a lot of these around the border last fall," says [Val Ward]. "They were wonderful for the way the dark colour lit up all the other bulbs around them."

Scilla. Also called bluebells, with hanging bell-shaped flowers, these are "one of the best and least used hardy bulbs available," says Ward. They will take full sun to dappled light but need moisture. They are also squirrel-proof and naturalize well. They bloom in early to mid-spring.