In CT you should be pretty close to planting time. I would imagine that end of September or October would be your month for planting spring blooming bulbs. Here in Texas, it's best to wait until December (daffodils can be planted earlier).
Tulips require what is called a vernalization period. That means they need a specific amount of time ( about 8-10 weeks) at temperatues consistantly below about 45-50F. The bulb will not form a flower bud until after this cooling period, and then a return of warmer temperatures. A spike of warm temperatures during that 8-10 week period can actually reverse the process (devernalization) - resulting in no blooms. This is why it is best to wait until December here in Texas to plant them. In climates that do not acheive an adequate period of cooling naturally, you usually have to store the bulbs in the fridge for 8-10 weeks before planting (usually what we have to do here in Texas), in order to have flowers.
Some bulbs have actually been pre-chilled before you purchase them. If they have not been exposed to warm temperatures, then you can plant them here without chilling, and you'll have blooms. (you can actually purchase "pre-chilled" bulbs from some catalogs.) Bulbs that are sold in the local nurseries here, and from mail order catalogs for that matter, are typically stored in refrigerated warehouses until they are shipped. So during that period of time, they may actually acheive their vernalization before you even buy them at the store. That may explain why you do sometimes get blooms down here in Texas without pre-chilling them yourself. Hyacinth also require vernalization. Most daffodil do not, but can actually perform better if pre-chilled. (many spring flower bulbs can benefit from chilling.)
Obviously, there are some differences between the species, based on where they are endemic (what latitude). Some species have a minimal vernalization requirement, and so may actually rebloom if left in the ground here in Texas, depending on the winter (such as some of the smaller species tulips.)
If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. For plants that are native to cooler climates, it is suicide to bloom too early - the flowers can get frozen, thus ruining any possibility of reproduction. Tulips have adapted to not put their energy into producing a flower bud until warm temperatures return after long enough period of cold. Make sense?
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