As summer ends and the holiday season approaches, consider setting aside a special gift to enjoy in the springtime.

September is an opportune time for dreaming up dazzling spring gardens and landscapes. If you’re looking to enhance your outdoor space with captivating colors, spring-blooming bulbs may be the answer.

Bulbs can enrich landscapes in a variety of ways—like in naturalistic plantings, borders or mass displays. Favored for both their delicate beauty and hardiness, bulbs like daffodils, snowdrops and hyacinths can be planted in the late fall for stunning spring blossoms.

The best time to plant spring-blooming bulbs is when soils are below 60 degrees in the late fall or about six weeks before a hard frost is expected. Refer to the Old Farmer’s Almanac’s Frost Dates Calendar for typical fall frost dates in your area.

Start buying or ordering fall bulbs now for the best selection. Most garden stores start carrying them by mid-September, and some online nurseries offer preordering options. Visit flowerbulbs.com to find out where to buy high-quality bulbs.

University of Georgia Extension recommends buying from a reputable dealer, selecting bulbs that are firm and have unblemished skin, and avoiding those that are soft or appear molded or discolored.

If you can’t plant bulbs right away, store them in a dry area around 60-65 degrees. Most spring-flowering bulbs require a 12-16-week cold period in ventilated packages in the bottom of your refrigerator at 40-50 degrees before planting. Check with your bulb supplier if they have been pre-cooled or a cold treatment is required.

Some popular varieties, like tulips and crocuses, have been known to attract deer and other wildlife. If you’re in an area with a lot of wildlife, you may want to consider deer-resistant options like daffodils, snowdrops and alliums, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.