I don't know the answer to your questions for your zone, but Brent & Becky will. Their customer service operators are enormously helpful. Call them on their toll free number! And, of course, if all else fails, pot those bulbs up once they arrive. (I'm betting they'll make the trip just fine. B&B wouldn't ship them if they weren't pretty confident. I believe they're responsible until you receive delivery.)

I don't know how the bulbs will fare back east--I know that B&B sends their bulbs third day air during their sales to the west, where I live. Nor do I know what to suggest about planting under feet of snow. Containers, I suppose...get thee to the nearest garden center and buy a heap of potting soil and big pots, and put all the bulbs in pots to place in a cool (above freezing but below 40 degrees) garage or room, water them lightly, and hope the snow melts soon or transplant come spring?

Marianne,
Do not regret! They will arrive in perfect shape. We will have higher temperature here in Mid Atlantic next week, and so will you in NY!
You will not get such a deal in any other time of the year.
Alina (who also got tempted by B&B's 25% and 50% sales)

NOW I'm not wondering *how* I'll get my last bulbs in--the *how* is with a trowel or spade. The question is WHERE. As usual, I bought too many bulbs to plant in an already-densely-planted garden. The containers (the containers for Spring--I have three rotating sets to allow for spring, summer and fall plantings) are full, too. Helloooooo shoehorn...

The bulbs will be fine. I received mine in perfect shape as I do every year (except the year they came with aphids).

My bulbs arrived a day earlier than projected--they arrived Wednesday instead of today. Good thing, too. I scrambled to get most of them planted Wednesday afternoon, plus 150 crocus bulbs I hadn't managed to plant yet. That left 10 tulips and 20 daffodils for today, and I made a push to get them planted in the rain before the snow starts falling tonight. Whooof! That's the end of the bulbs for this year! Now all I have is maintenance chores like sieving compost, throwing it all over the flower beds, going through my seedling pots to see what to keep and what to toss, and fertilizing.

I have looked at the forecast and I might be able to get my 350+ bulbs in on Sunday - if my toddler naps well, that is! Right now the ground is a bit frozen from temperatures in the twenties. Oh when will I ever learn?!

Marianne

Sunday was a no starter but I got lucky in between cold spells and planted my bulbs yesterday afternoon. Just as I was collapsing the bulb boxes for recycling last night, I noticed two more bags of minor bulbs that had not been planted. The temperature had gone down to 33F by then but I donned my down coat, latex gloves and a hat and proceeded to plant the remainder
of my bulbs. Thank goodness we have a security light that is activated by motion in the location I had to plant! I'm glad it was also in a spot that was invisible from neighbors and the street in general!! I'm thrilled I did get the bulbs in, though, because they are forecasting 6-10" of snow today and the temperature went down to 20 last night. We are even expecting night temps in the single digits next week. Needless to say, I didn't water in my bulbs since we were close to freezing. Do you think that the minor bulbs will survive that since they are so relatively close to the surface? I guess I have nothing to loose, right?!

Another close call averted and now, I'm ready for Spring :-)

Marianne

I think planting 350 bulbs with a toddler is quite an accomplishment!

Loretta,

I wish my daughter was that patient! LOL
No, I planted them while she napped at the expense of other work that needed doing!

Marianne (who is now looking at a sheet of icy snow covering it all!)