The tulips and daffs are three months too late. You cant expect them to form roots when there is not sufficient time for a cooling period. I have to think, in the P>N>W.....? zone 8 ...you buy pre-cooled bulbs and have to give them the remaining interval of 10 weeks in a cool soil. Since that is impossible now, your tulips and daffs cant grow roots and should not be planted lest they become fodder for squirrels etc. The lilies and iris will be planted this spring when the soil has firmly warmed up. Depending on the variety, the lily might flower this year....the iris ...next spring.

Hmmm. Well, VanZyverdens (they supply retailers all over the country) here in Meridian had their final clearanace sale all through the month of November. I went the first day and promptly took home 2 or 3 hundred and planted them. THEN a friend of mind called me to accompany her to the final day of the sale (last week) to "help" her. Came home with MORE. Naturally, it has rained everyday since. No matter. I put the tulips in the refrigerator and the narcisus are out in the garage. We had a killing frost the day after Thanksgiving, so as soon as it dries out, I'll "roll up" the last of the lantanas, cupheas, and hyacinth beans. That will make room for the new additions. I'm going to be out putting up Christmas decorations anyway...:) By the way, get a load of this. At the sale, I bought 100 Spring Green tulips, and 15 dozen named jonquils for $26!!!! Of course, this is why my addiction is so out of control...

I'm just down the road in Newport News. No sand necessary around here for any of those bulbs, and you can continue planting right on through New Year's (the ground never freezes permanently in this zone, only for a day or two at a time, usually). I would recommend mixing in some sharp gravel when planting tulips and crocus; "permatill" or "soil perfector" are name brands available. This is not so much needed for drainage as to keep voles from eating your bulbs as soon as they're planted. Daffodils are immune to attack, being members of the amaryllis tribe, but the lily and iris families (to which tulips and crocus, respectively, belong) are prime targets. You should also be aware that, although the daffs and crocus are pretty much perennial, most tulips are good for a season or two at most around here. Our summer temps and erratic soil moisture aren't conducive to their becoming naturalized. Although some classes tend to last at least a little longer than others, it's probably best to consider tulips annuals, then to be pleasantly surprised if you do get a bloom or two the following year.

I actually think you might have better luck with anything except the oriental lilies. The lily bulbs have probably been trying to grow in their bag on the shelf for the last month or two and might be close to death! The others will be perfect. I haven't even started my caladiums yet and cannas are barely sprouting. It's been a cool spring and most of the non-hardy summer bulbs are just sitting there waiting for this weekend's hot weather to get here. so feel free to buy on-sale summer bulbs, it's the gardeners who are losing interest in growing bulbs, but the bulbs are still very interested in growing! -but be careful with any bagged or boxed perrenials or perennial bulbs such as lilies, check to see if they're solid and if you want to take a chance go for it... And don't expect blooms this year, maybe next.