Time for the Great White North to add to the discussion. Most of the current colour is from shrubs, especially the ones providing nectar for overwintering Anna's hummingbirds. However, there are a couple of species of snowdrops in bloom, and Schizostylis carries on ( I don't know whether we count this as a bulb, but it has thickened roots.) -- Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada maritime zone 8 cool mediterranean climate (dry summer, rainy winter - 68 cm annually) sandy soil