One of my favorite things, especially at this time of year, is to buy a potted plant at the grocery store. Usually they will bloom for a few weeks before going into dormancy – this is when most people get disheartened and let them die. If you cut back the blooms, keep it watered and given enough light, many of these plants (like African violets, kalanchoe and even orchids) will rebloom. Best to keep bulbs to plant in the garden in the fall – just dump out the soil, shake the bulbs off and keep them in a cool plac over the summer (like a basement closet or cold storage).