when is the proper planting time for bulbs?

probably spring after last frost,i leave em in the ground here. not supposed to work but so far so good.

so my bulbs will be okay in a brown paper bag until then?

Plant spring blooming bulbs in the fall. Plant summer\fall blooming bulbs in the spring.

In Zone 6 I leave my bulbs in the ground and they spring back up every year.

b94new, there is a lot of good information at Pacific Callas . If you do plan to keep the bulbs in a paper bag over the winter, be sure they are in a cool, dry place or they may rot.