For many people, bulbs suggest spring. It takes some effort to remember that summer, too, is a time for flowering bulbs.

        Remember, if you want a big splash of color, don't be stingy when you prepare your borders for later this season. Bulbs that should be planted now include:

        • Dahlias are the most generous plants for their stunning blooms, whether you prefer the dinner-plate sized offerings or the more diminutive types. Stake plants (if large cultivars) by driving in the support before you plant the tuber. To ensure a crop the following year, it is best to lift them in late fall.

        • Cannas have been in horticultural limbo since my childhood, when they took center stage at gas stations and public parks. But their popularity is on the rise because of their spectacular foliage as well as their blooms. I know gardeners who remove the blooms and use cannas only for their foliage. Because “hot” colors are in this year, try Canna x generalis “Striata” (or “Pretoria”), which has brilliant orange blossoms.

        • Crocosmia “Lucifer” is a vivid scarlet that adds rich color to late summer.

        • For those fortunate enough to have a pond or water feature in their garden, the stately blooms of the arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) can be planted near the water to produce dark green, spear-shaped leaves and white spathes.

        • Don't ignore flowering onions. Try Allium christophii among June-flowering plants. This allium's short-lived foliage will be masked later on, and 10-inch flower heads, like diaphanous globes of lavender, will create a sensation — not only for you but for the bees.

        • A truly elegant plant for the back of the border is the foxtail lily (Eremurus x isabellinus), which comes in yellow, pink and white. It's a giant plant but the foliage dies away at blooming time. You want to provide these plants with some companions as they prepare to depart. The roots are extremely brittle and starfish-shaped. Handle with care.

        • To cool the brighter colors of summer, plant a clutch of fragrant white bells called Galtonia candicans. The 4-foot spikes can play the same role as delphiniums and foxtails early in the season. Plant the bulbs about 9 inches deep in rich soil.

       Contact Tim Morehouse at The Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati OH 45202; www.getmoregarden.com. If writing, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

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