The bulbs have arrived at Outside New York . Carmen DeVito, co-owner and bulb aficionada, names the Thalia (mid-spring bloomers) and Cheerfulness (late spring bloomers) as her favorite daffodils, mainly because they're so fragrant. For people worried about squirrels getting into them, she told me that Roman soldiers used to carry Narcissus bulbs into battle with them and when injured on the battlefield, they could eat the bulbs to hasten their death. If a little bulb can finish off a big Roman soldier, you'd think that gray squirrels would stay away from them. (But there are some mutant squirrels in this city.)

For shady areas she recommends scilla, or bluebells, and for small, fragrant pops of color, she likes muscari latifolium that are two-toned blue and purple.

As for specialty bulbs, the fritillaria, or checkerboard lilies made you do a double take, and those who like darkness in their garden try the species of dark fritillaria. As for combinations, she plants a crocus under a daffodil, so the daffodil foliage covers the spent crocus.

She also likes allium mixed with summer blooming perennials like phlox and grasses. And one of the most eye catching flowers from a bulb is the hearty Amaryllis that has no leaves--just pink flowers and black stems.

Paul Gilmartin, a gardener trained both in England and at The New York Botanical Gardens, is spending a lot of time on his knees these days. He also likes the Thalia for an early bloom and he says that the Jonquilla is a good mid spring daffodil that is also sweetly scented.

Here's a list of other bulbs he's going to be planting this spring.

The fritillaria - all types, especially pallidiflora and persica species; pallidiflora has several pale yellow flowers to a stem (mid Spring);

Galanthus - one of the earliest flowering bulbs and a great naturalizer;

Trilliums - beautiful woodland treasures (mid spring);

Camassia- blue flowers with a turquoise cast; works well in a meadow-like setting or even in a structured modern environment (late spring);

Alliums - an amazing array of variety, shapes and sizes and can be contrasted off perennials and grasses (mid/late spring);

To purchase bulbs go to Outside New York at 99 North 10th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and to have them installed by a gardener with an English accent, write Paul at paul.gilmartin at yahoo.com