A long, cold winter can leave you yearning for lots of color to banish the memories of February's starkness. Tulips are happy to oblige with flowers in almost all shades of the rainbow and forms that span everything from tiny, almost indestructible species types to full doubles, brilliantly frilled and fringed parrots, and Amazonian giants.

Choose generous sweeps of one or two varieties. Mix forms and colors with wild abandon. Or tuck a few Liliputian species tulips into the space beside the pathway flagstones. Tulips can be grown in almost any part of the country if a little care is taken to match growing zone preferences with specific varieties. Hint: for warmer areas, look first at the species types.