When we last visited the front yard garden, we had removed the giant yews from in front of the house. We dug out the roots laid in a thick layer of manure and sphagnum and new soil. An easy and fertile place to dig and plant was created. We planted the lilac and the holly right away, I was eager to acquire something new and easier to maintain than the giant yews. But we left the majority of the space empty, unsure of what to put there. Before: I went out in search of vast quantities of sphagnum to lay over the back yard flower beds and was quickly side tracked. I usually spend an inordinate amount of time in garden centers meandering up and down the aisles of flowers and plants. Today I was inspired. There were small flats of perennial spring bulbs already started. This is perfect for that naked space between the holly and lilac, since I didn't plan ahead last fall with bulb planting. It's not too late for spring bulbs, at least in this fashion. After: The result: an instant garden with a row of tall red tulips in the rear, a row of yellow daffodils, a line of snowy white hyacinth and a front low row of indigo grape hyacinth. All of the plants have either just started to flower or are near ready to bloom. They look a little thin now, but give them time, they'll divide and fill the space more fully. In the fall I plan to supplement the low growing row with crocus bulbs.