Already in February with, we hope, the worst of the winter behind us, the nights are drawing out and the sun becoming stronger each day. In our gardens and in the countryside we now look eagerly for the first signs of spring. That is why bulbs are one of the most valuable sources of colour in the spring garden, window-boxes and containers.  One of the great advantages is that they can be enjoyed on any scale from the smallest balcony to the large garden.

Snowdrops are one of the first bulbs to flower, with delicate white bells appearing before the leaves. These work very well in deciduous shrub borders, e.g. planted beneath the red steed Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’, or the coral branches of Acer palmatum ‘Sangokaku’. Another early flower which suits full shade are the winter aconites, Eranthus hyemalis, their yellow faces chasing the cold of winter away.

One thing which often puts people off bulbs is the dead foliage when they have finished, because it is necessary to leave the foliage for 6 weeks after flowering to allow the energy to build up again in the bulb for flowering the following year. However, when using them conjunction with shrubs and perennials, the new border growth can disguise the old foliage.

Many clients don’t care for yellow in the garden, but exceptions are made for daffodils, certainly the heralds of spring. Daffodils can be forced indoors in pots for an interior display, and also grow well in containers. The choice is wide from the traditional yellow trumpets of Wordsworth, to the more delicate narcissus with their wonderful scents. Normally, of course, you plant the bulbs in September/October, but for containers, you can buy them now pot grown.

Crocuses are cheerful little flowers which naturalize well in grass. Planted in a lawn, they will provide an attractive splash of colour, and by the time the grass is ready for a first cut, their foliage is ready to be cut down. Tulips have an interesting history, with bulbs exchanging hands for four-figure sums during the Middle Ages.

William and Mary at Hampton Court Palace had special delft vases to display individual stems. There is a colour and height to please every taste and again, they work well with perennials. Striking combinations can be created with blacks and dark purples against the paler pinks, peaches and whites.

Soon it will be time to plant summer bulbs, which are often forgotten. They work in the same way as spring varieties with perennials and form a valuable contribution between flowering times of surrounding plants. Allium ‘Globemaster’ will liven up the rose border before the roses come into flower. Lilium varieties – our favourite is the white Lilium regale or royal lily with its fabulous scent – will bloom mid-summer after the earlier flowers have finished. Then there are Gladioli for cut flowers.

The wonderful thing about bulbs is once you plant them they provide you with colour for years to come – a great investment!

March 6-13 you can find us at the Habitat Jardin exhibition at Beaulieu in Lausanne, stand 28, hall 28. We always like to meet our readers, so if you have any questions or have time to say hello, please pop by.