It’s not too late to plant spring-blooming bulbs — I planted a couple of dozen crocuses that I forgot I had just last weekend. As long as the ground is not frozen and you can get a shovel in, you can still plant bulbs.

One of the earliest bloomers in spring is a charming little variety known as ‘Tricolor.’ It’s extremely hardy and will actually bloom amid lingering snow on the ground.

‘Tricolor’ offers three distinct bands of color: bright orange in the center of each flower, then a broad band of white and a rich pastel purple edge at the tips of the petals.

(Photo from White Flower Farm)

Known botanically as Crocus sieberi ‘Tricolor,’ this smallish bulb is native to the mountains of the Peloponnese in Greece. Each bulb produces four to five flowers, so a handful of bulbs will make a nice splash of color when you’re absolutely desperate to see a bloom in your garden.

‘Tricolor’ will return year after year and multiply and spread over time. It’s ideal for rock gardens.

Crocuses are incredibly easy to grow. Plant them tightly together in large groupings in fall and just wait for the show in early spring.

They thrive in average garden soil and you can plant them right in the lawn because they’ll be gone by the time you need to first cut the grass. Plant them near a doorway or along a walkway to the car so you can see them up close.

If you have problems with aggressive, hungry squirrels, try a variety called Crocus tommasinianus. Known commonly as tommies, these have slightly smaller flowers and strong stems that do not flop over on windy days.

Crocuses prefer full sun but will tolerate some shade. After they fade, let the grasslike foliage die back on its own. And remember where they are — within a few weeks, they’ll completely disappear.