Try crocuses and grape hyacinths instead of giant tulips.

It was a profusion of grape hyacinths, meant to simulate a stream bed.

Many people have had good luck forcing the smaller grape hyacinths to bloom.

Bit by bit the different stages of bulbs bloomed, including a few grape hyacinths that had wandered in from somewhere.

And slowly winding its way to a lake was a shimmering river of brilliant blue grape hyacinths.

Flowers resemble those of grape hyacinth (Muscari), which is the origin of the species name.

They put in grape hyacinths, tulips and daffodils for the spring, sunflowers for the summer.

Put in the tulip bulbs first, then add some soil and plant the grape hyacinths more shallowly on top of it.

Crocus, tulips, grape hyacinths and the rest can follow.

"Those look lovely," one woman said, pointing to the photograph of the blue grape hyacinth on the Burpee chart.