Springtime Bulbs!
I'm a big fan of Spring bulbs as they are the one sure way of getting really early colour into your garden. Plants such as Narcissus February Gold do what they say on the packet, consistently flowering in early February and sometimes even in January. There is also a whole range of varieties of Daffodil that can be planted to get flowers right through to May.
For many people bulbs seem an inconvenience. If the thought of getting down on your knees and digging endless small holes to plant the same thing time after time fills you with dread then just think what you'll be missing come the new year - you'll regret it come Spring when your neighbours' gardens are blooming with yellows of Narcissus, the blues of Chinodoxa and, best of all, the pure white of Snowdrops.
The Snowdrop is the perfect flower to lift your spirits in the coldest and darkest part of the Winter. Imagine clumps of strappy leaves with nodding heads of white, creamy white, even white tinged with green. The double headed Galanthus nivalis Flore Pleno is a robust double headed variety, but they are the only bulb that I'd recommend you wait to plant "in the green", as this way they'll establish much easier than if you use the ordinary dry bulb.
The main problem with bulbs is that they can rot off in the ground if the soil is too wet. Bulbs like reasonably dry conditions and if you've got a sandy, free draining soil they'll love it. One of the best bulbs for this type of soil is the Tulip.
Tulips are an absolute must have. They are perfect for pots, especially the parrot tulips such as Tulipa Texas Flame and for borders try the Darwin hybrids such as Tulipa Apeldoorn and Tulipa Apeldoorn's Elite - once planted they will come back year after year.
For a truly stylish planting grow only white specimens of Snowdrops, Narcissus such as the saucer sized Narcissus Mount Tacoma and Tulips such as Tulipa Swan Wings against a backdrop of greens. On the smallest scale try these in a trough with a simple box plant.
And finally a little tip about dying daffodil leaves. They look untidy but you shouldn't cut them back, tie them up or lift the plants. Let them die down naturally but plant amongst ferns and the new fronds of the ferns will disguise the dying leaves of the daffodils in no time at all.
All the best,
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