“Bulbs provide colorful, easy-care blooms in your garden for years to come,” says Bulb Bazaar chair Sarah Gunderson. “Just dig a hole, put the bulb in, cover it up and then forget about it until spring, when the first flowers pop out of the ground.”

Presented by the Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society, the Bulb Bazaar has the best varieties and largest selection of daffodils, tulips, alliums and other specialty bulbs, including fritillary, hyacinth and autumn crocus, at the perfect time for fall planting. All are carefully researched and selected for their superior performance in Midwestern gardens. Bulbs are delivered from Holland just days before the sale. Among this year’s selection are 80 specialty bulbs that are difficult to find anywhere else. A specialized bulb collection for shade will be available.

For those who can’t wait until spring, there are containers pre-planted with indoor forcing bulbs for winter color. Benjamin Carroll, Senior Horticulturist at the Chicago Botanic Garden, will be signing his hand-made pots which are sold at the Bazaar. These pots are excellent for forcing bulbs to bloom indoors.

Through interactive demonstrations and signage, shoppers can get ideas on bulb varieties that perform well together in terms of height, bloom time and color. Chicago Botanic Garden staff, horticulturists and volunteers are available to answer questions on planting techniques, provide suggestions for using bulbs, or help customize selections for specific needs and interests.

The Bulb Bazaar catalog, which is almost an encyclopedia of bulbs, gives detailed information on bulbs and is a useful tool for planning next spring’s garden. -- www.chicagobotanic.org