Late winter and early spring bulbs for your garden

It's that 'inbetweeny' time of year. The days are getting longer so we know winter will soon be over. But it's not officially spring yet - despite the occasional bright, sunny day recently. So, while summer still feels like a bit of an alien concept, we can at least recharge our spiritual batteries with some uplifting colour and cheer provided by late winter/early spring bulbs. We've picked just a handful of our favourites to share with you.

Right now, we love the tiny irises, such as Iris reticulata Harmony below right, and for the galanthophiles among us, it just wouldn't be spring without the snowdrops, pictured below left with the black grass Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens.

Bulbs offer a vast array of creative planting opportunities, whether planted en masse or in a door-side container. The great thing about bulbs and corms is that they are cheap, pretty easy to care for and suited to a wide range of planting conditions and sites. 

Grow them in patio pots, hanging baskets, window boxes and tubs. They look incredible when naturalised in a lawn, or under trees. They're great when used to fill gaps in the herbaceous border, or to provide a splash of seasonal colour. Cut them and enjoy them indoors too, particularly with the fragrant narcissi. We can't wait for the sea of golden daffodils that is Kew Gardens in springtime. 'Til then, enjoy!