Courtesy of Maureen Gilmer / DIY A picture of signs with names printed on them help document what tulips to order for the next year.

Tulip planting is impossibly bipolar. It's split between spring and fall, making the span between ordering, planting and flowering at least seven months apart. What inspires us in early spring as these plants bloom is often a faded memory by the time fall bulb planting season rolls around. And when you begin to think about them for late summer catalog shopping, the choices become overwhelming.

This year, don't just admire the tulips; take a more active role in deciding what you like. Try to focus on tulip gardens and figure out what makes one more appealing. Seeing combinations in the flesh rather than in books or catalog photos can take the guesswork out of deciding if this will work for you next year.

The best way to record what you see today is to keep a small digital camera that you can use for snapshots. You'll return to these photos time and again, blowing them up on your computer screen to study the colors at summer bulb ordering time. Photos show you layout and masses too. Are they rigid forms or irregular drifts? Are the color masses all the same size, or do they vary with the hue? These little details are important, and a photo reveals them in perfect reproduction forever.

Look around for labels or signs that indicate what varieties are used. Take a shot that includes the signs. Even if it's not visible in the view finder, you can blow up the image on your computer to read the varietals' names. That way, you can go to the catalogs and order the same varieties without question.

A less exact option is to keep a little notebook with you to record those gardens or combinations that knock your socks off. So how do you record what you see on paper? One way is to simply make a list of the colors used. Try to be as specific as you can with the descriptions of the colors even if it takes a few words to describe an unusual hue.

Another way to record design is to assess colors used together in larger masses. Sometimes these larger combinations are coordinated with an overall scheme, such as cool colors.

Another thing to jot down is how home gardeners or parks have combined tulips with other perennials. These longer-lived plants keep the bed attractive after the tulips have faded. Some great combinations feature perennials that bloom in tandem with the tulips. This is tough to work out on your own, but when you see it work in your community, you know exactly what pairs well.

Most Americans have no idea how many tulip varieties are available. Different heights, season of bloom, color and range of shapes make selection a challenge.

— Maureen Gilmer is a horticulturist and host of "Weekend Gardening" on DIY Network. Contact her at her Web site http://www.moplants.com or visit http://www.diynetwork.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.