I'd suggest you go to www.timberpress.com, go to the "Bulbs" selection, browse the titles you see there, and choose whichever one suits your interests and abilities best. I was going to give you a list of several books to choose from because I don't have one universal favorite book on bulbs. However, with one exception, all the books are from Timber Press, hence my recommendation to check their website.

The only favorite bulb book NOT from Timber Press on my list is "Bulbs" by Martin and Rix. I don't know if it's still in print. In any case, that one isn't a great book if you want to know HOW to grow bulbs; it's a wonderful picture album of nearly every bulb species in commerce today. There isn't enough room in any picture book to cover all the cultivated varieties of Tulips, Hyacinths, Crocus, Lilies or Narcissus (Daffodils), but good catalogs can fill that gap nicely.

"Garden Bulbs for the South" by Scott Ogden, hands down. Not only my favorite bulb book (and, without a doubt, the most appropriate for your zone and mine), but one of my top 3 favorite gardening books, period. Be sure to get the new edition, published in 2006 or 2007 - I liked the old one so much that I bought the second edition when it came out and gave the old one to a friend. The new one is greatly expanded and worth every penny.

Enjoy!

Thanks, Bubba! I have Scott Ogden's book on perennials, so I know he's very good. I didn't know he had a bulb book.
I can't wait to see what others are recommended.

John E Bryan's book on bulbs is good, too. It is a general bulb book; not focused on one area of the country. There is another older book out called The Book of Bulbs by F.F. Rockwell, written and published in 1928. Very good book on general bulb culture with chapters on specifics as well. The chapters include Bulbs for Greater Beauty in Every Garden, Bulb Gardens Large and Small, Making a Bulb Garden, What Bulbs Are, Spring-Flowering Bulbs and Their Culture; Tulips; Daffodils; Hyacinths; Half-Hardy Bulbs, Summer-Flowering Bulbs; Hardy Lilies; Gladiolus; Dahlia; Autumn Bulbs, Bulbs for Winter Bloom; The Propagation of Bulbs, and Insects and Diseases. The discussion of soils and where to plant are very succinct, and so is the suggestion of feedings and watering. In fact, it is the most complete of all bulbs I have ever seen, and if you can get a copy I highly recommend it.

Thanks, Y'all. I have ordered Ogden's book AND Rockwell's (okay. so, if you could only have two... :). I found it on Amazon.com under collectible books. I am looking forward to spending January reading them both. Rockwell had a bunch of books listed on Amazon. Are you familiar with any others, hopflower? The only thing I like better than gardening is reading about gardening..

Heheh! You got it, donnabaskets! I am just the same that way.

I can see that Ogden's book would be quite valuable. Many times I have seen people having questions about growing which bulbs in the southland; I guess because of the warm summers involved. That source should be very helpful for your climate. Brent & Becky's often offer advice on the same topic, as does Old House Gardens.

I am so glad to learn you have found Rockwell's book. It is rather old-fashioned, but nonetheless informative and surely not at all out of date. He does mention bone meal, but we know about products now that are better and some people after all still use it. I can tell you though, you will spend some time really enjoying that book. It tells you how to start a bulb garden and takes it all over from there. Almost any bulb you can think of gets covered in its cultivation and there is lots more besides!

You must let me know how you like it.

I ordered a new book for myself, too. It is the one called Daffodils for North American Gardens by Brent Heath of Brent and Becky's. Lots of pictures of lots of daffodils! I read it once, but decided I must have a copy for my library.

I am glad to hear your recommendation for B&B's book. I order an awful lot of my bulbs from them: their southern grown bulbs seem to do better here.

I am anxiously awaiting Rockwell's book. There are so many bulbs that have been mentioned on this forum that I have never heard of, and I DO like to be in the know :)

Hi, you two. I got both books this week and have just been devouring them. I am so glad I got both of them! They work together like a hand in glove. Ogden's book gives great info on what will and will not thrive in the south. I seriously doubt he missed any southern-growing bulb in existence, he's so thorough! And what a wonderful Resource list at the end. I can't wait to start searching.

Rockwell's book is the BEST I have seen for giving detailed information on the hows, whys, and wheres of bulbs. I have been growing the "basic" bulbs for twenty years or more, and I felt like a total novice reading Rockwell, just on daffodils alone. I have never seen such complete information on ANY plant, much less on this many in one place. I love the pictures showing the growth cycles, and all the super lists he gives. If anyone else reads this thread, I highly recommend it! I got it through Amazon for less than $5.00, including s/h. It's an oldie, but a real goodie!
Thanks, hopflower and bubba for the A+ recommendations.
Donna

Really. Rockwell's book is too hot, isn't it? I love it. Glad you're enjoying it, donna. I thought you might.