The slender, 20-foot obelisk serves as one of two bright red focal points in a garden cloud of white azaleas, encircled with a halo of bright red tulips.

Originally an abandoned steeple, it now calls to worship those who recognize the Creator's beauty in the garden.

As often as I have zipped past this garden sanctuary and been given a reason to refocus my soul, I didn't realize until recently that landscape architect, Casey Brownlow of Wilhite Nurseries, and his wife Kelley, lived in the fabulous azalea district home in Tyler.

So, when the Brownlows opened their home recently for a group of garden aficionados, I took notes.

When Casey talks about bulbs, he emphasizes those, like daffodils, which come up every spring in east Texas. He likes the idea of making a colorful splash while watching your gardening budget.

"It's Spring," is what a yard full of daffodils says according to Casey. But the time to plant them is now.

Lucky for me, I don't go anywhere without a pad and pencil.

Lucky for you, here's Casey's list of favorite bulbs:

• Unsurpassable is the name of Casey's favorite daffodil.

• Muscari Bulbs are a delightful purple native similar to miniature hyacinths.

• Feedback is the hybridized purple iris that Casey chooses because they bloom four times each year instead of once.

Hybrids are also available now in yellow and white irises.

• Paper Whites are a favorite too because they are naturally acclimated to East Texas.

"Kelley is a victim of

Snowdrops, " laughs Casey about his wife's favorite flowering bulb which is similar to a crocus with a white cluster of bells on a long stem.

Snowdrops tend to be subtle rather than showy. Casey goes for drama.

Tulips are a splurge, according to Casey, since they average about a dollar per bulb and last only one season.

He warns that tulips can be temperamental, even a gamble, with sunshine playing a big factor in when and how well they bloom.

On the other hand, some folks, including the Brownlows, just can't resist tulips, so here are the ones Casey recommends:

• For red: World's Favorite or King's Blood.

• For yellow: Golden Appledorn or Gudoshnik.

• For pink: Pink Impression or Menton. He recommends against Non-Stop Pink.

My special thanks to Casey for lending his expertise to this week's column.

And a big thank you to him and Kelley, not only for their recent hospitality, but also for creating a garden which, each time we drive by, reminds us to slow down and enjoy creation.

Cathy Primer Krafve lives and writes with a Texas twang.

She can be reached at cathykrafve@gmail.com.