Two bulbs set the scene during the holidays - amaryllis, with its large trumpet like flowers atop a sturdy stalk, and paperwhites, a very fragrant daffodil that perfumes the room.

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) and paperwhites (Narcissus tazetta) are readily available at garden centers and online and mail order merchants. Buy the biggest bulbs you can find. Here are some more tips: 

For a traditional holiday flavor, visit Conservatory Crossing at Garfield Park, a land of Christmas villages, G-scale toy trains, music and 700 poinsettias. This is the second year for Conservatory Crossing, brought to Indy Parks through the support of the Indiana Rail Road Company.

Dec. 13, Santa Claus will be at the conservatory from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for Holiday Family Day with free admission. For a fee, you can get your picture taken with Santa. At Garfield's Burrello Family Center, Mrs. Claus is working on holiday crafts.

We hear all the time about planning the perennial garden so that something is in bloom all the time. When Perennials Bloom by Tomasz Anisko (2008, Timber Press, $59.95) removes any guesswork. Anisko, a native of Poland, is the curator of plants at Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia.

With scientific research and record keeping, Anisko has chronicled the flowering time of 450 herbaceous perennials through several seasons. The result is a fairly precise range of when specific plants bloom and their peak times. The book breaks down the blooms by cultivars, too. 

With the shopping season upon us, some may be looking for gift ideas for gardeners. I think gardeners are easy to buy for. A gift card to a local garden center, for instance, can be used in spring for a new plant, tool, pot, load of compost or whatever else the recipient might want.

Although gloves may be considered too practical for a gift, there are a couple on the market that are fabulous. I never used to wear gloves when I gardened and now I wear them about all the time unless I'm planting very small plants.