What bulbs will I plant?

[highlander]

have cleared out my old shady rockery. Am going to plant some bulbs for next year. Any recommendations? (apart from the usual old boring snow drops)

I'd try for miniature flowers such as Jetfire daffodils, the small species tulips, crocus, snakes head fritillary etc. Any garden centre should have a good selection for you to browse through - I spent 75quid on bulbs last week! Or there are catalogues you can send for, Bloms, Avon Bulbs (pricey, though!), Suttons, Blooms of Bressingham etc.

aliums, loads of varieties,
dahlias have made a comeback and there are some stunning ones!
its a seed but nigella love in the mist is great for around the bigger bulbs or in pots.

thought you were going abrooad suedonium? The squirrels will have had all the bulbs by the time you get back.
I have given up with bulbs ( see above) Now stick with perennials. How about grasses and ferns if its shady.

I love snakes head fritillaries but they do much better in grass than in a bed.
remember that early bulbs come up againsta background of brown earth, so light colours (eg white crocuses) look much better than dark (purple crocuses get lost - they are better against grass).
There are some beautiful white tulips called white triumphator which I love - tall, graceful, lovely shapes. Also Angelique, a very pale pink double tulip is great. Plant them deeper than recommended and you should be fine against squirrels. And leave them in the beds, don't lift them after flowering, unless you have very heavy clay soil.
I agree alliums are nice - purple sensation are the best IMO, but they flower when their leaves are dying so grow them through some later perennials otherwise they look a bit sad and bare around the base. eg plant them with something like irises, that is a good combo....

Bought the bulbs before I knew about the going-abroad, Greenbean. We're keeping the house so garden will need to be maintained anyway. We don't have a squirrel problem here as we're in the country and they prefer the woods to our mouldy old plots. Pph, I have snakes heads in a rocky bank and they seem okay - I thought it was damp they liked? I tend to veer towards trying anything anywhere, tbh, and see what happens, lol!

what wonderful suggestions - thankyou!