We all love to see daffodils showing their faces in spring. Customers come rushing in wanting to plant the bulbs of yellow flowers. But we are forced to tell them, "Sorry, it's too late." Fall is the time to plan ahead for spring bulb color.

Tulips, crocus and daffodils are the traditional standby bulbs. But for those that like the unusual, there are many spectacular varieties to choose from. They can be layered in containers or in your flower bed so that the colors just keep popping up. Crocus are the earliest blooming. Throw them into a flower bed and plant them where they land. Tulips are great in containers to show off your favorite pot in early spring. For a great show and color display, plant 8-10 daffodil bulbs in the same large hole.

Lilies, narcissus and hyacinths need to be planted in the fall as well. Don't forget that hyacinths and oriental lilies are fragrant. Plant them where your nose as well as eyes can appreciate their beauty.

And last but not least, fall is the time to plant garlic. Planning ahead for a summer garlic harvest requires putting the bulbs in the ground in the fall. For a mild flavor try elephant garlic. The bulbs are larger but just as easy to grow as regular garlic.

Don't be disappointed when your neighbors have daffodils and crocus popping up in the yard next spring and you have bare ground. Plan and plant ahead! Add some Dr. Earth Organic 1 Bulb Food at planting time for best results.

Choose your bulbs now and plant in the fall. We have a great selection of varieties, colors and accents in now!

• Ranunculus provide longer lasting color than any other spring flowering bulb. Each large-sized tuberous root will give as many as fifty to seventy-five blooms.
• Plant starting around mid-November.
• Choose a spot in full sun where ranunculus haven't grown for three or four years. (If sprinklers keep the bed soggy, prespout the tubers in flats of damp sand; as soon as they've grown some roots plant them in the bed.)
• Cultivate the soil deeply, adding organic soil amendment, and Dr. Earth Organic 1 Bulb Food according to package directions. Water the bed and let it settle overnight.
• Toss the tubers in drifts onto the bed. Rearrange them slightly so they're approximately 6 inches apart.
• Plant each tuber where it fell, making sure the points face down. Cover them with 1 1/2 inches of soil in heavy ground or 2 inches in light, sandy soil.
• Soak the bed deeply. Except in dry, sandy soil or very dry weather, don't water again until green growth shows. Then, if rains are mere sprinkles, water often enough to keep the soil moist but not soggy. The tubers can rot if they're soaked prior to planting or if they're planted in soil that stays soggy wet.
• Protect the sprouts from birds with wire or plastic garden netting until they're up about 4 inches.

It's time to put in the winter vegetable garden or, if you already have begun, to continue the job.

First, pull up and throw out or compost the remains of your summer garden. A thorough cleaning now really pays off in fewer bugs and diseases later.

Dig up the soil deeply with a spade, turning it over, aerating it, and breaking up the clods as you go.

Then use a garden fork to mix in organic amendments, such as Master Nursery Bumper Crop.

Add fertilizer according to package directions; work this into the top 6 inches of soil. If you're an organic gardener, use Dr. Earth Organic 2 Starter Fertilizer.

Then use a garden rake to level the ground. Use a hoe to make furrows between rows in heavy soils.

Plant tall crops to the north, and short crops to the south. Full sun is best for all winter vegetables.

Summer's blast of heat can make even the hardiest of shrubs look brown, tired, and just plain ugly.

Now is the time to give your bushes a hair cut. Trimming the ends of the plant encourages new lush, green growth. Be certain to remove any brown, dead branches to open up the space and help the plant fill in the voids.

Ground covers, such as ivy, will also benefit from a trimming.

Within weeks, new growth will appear, giving a fresh green look.

Bonnie's mother and grandmother always had gardens when she was growing. As a child, Bonnie loved to pick the flowers and arrange them in a vase or her hair. As a grownup she enjoys all aspects of gardening - weeding and planting - but still likes to pick the flowers.

During her life, Bonnie has had a career in the hotel industry and owned a fabric shop here in Yucaipa for several years. She recently purchased a new computerized sewing machine that also does embroidery!

She and husband Jim have raised 4 children, and have 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.