From unassuming bulbs come some of the brightest and most colourful flowers of all. Sarah Pajwani’s two-acre country garden, St Timothee near Maidenhead in Berkshire, is skilfully planted to provide year-round interest. Bulbs play a key role in her beautiful colour-themed borders.
Narcissus Elka isof the earliest, prettiest and longest-flowering daffodils in my garden with soft white petals and a lemon-yellow trumpet that fades to ivory. At only around six inches high, it combines well with taller varieties and multiples over the years to create mini drifts on its own.
Narcissus Snipe isanother smaller, early daffodil with creamy, white petals and a yellow trumpet but with the distinct swept back petals of the Cyclamineus types.Narcissus Pseudonarcissus Moschatus Cernuus
Also known as the swan’s neck daffodil, Narcissus Pseudonarcissus Moschatus Cernuus is an old variety loved for the demure way it hangs it head. This graceful beauty shortish in height, it looks best to me in woodland areas where it can gently naturalise.
Narcissus ‘Firebrand’ is possibly my favourite daffodil of all with star shaped, wavy lemon petals and a fiery small red cup. It’s late flowering and another old variety.
Hyacinths are a great way to inject a burst of colour early on and Hyacinth ‘Woodstock’ with its vivid magenta-plum blooms brings excitement and energy to the more traditional blues and creams of spring.
Mid-blue H. ‘Anastasia’ is multiflora hyacinth with fabulous, although slightly lax, dark stems. To me it’s more like a vigorous bluebell than a traditional hyacinth.
Tulipa Paul Scherer is a late-flowering black tulip that has proved highly perennial and disease resistant. It brings a touch of drama and sophistication when combined with
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