For sun or part shade… Bring on the bulbs

THEY may not look all that promising – net bags filled with little dry brown packages, a bit like the ‘wonky’ onions you can now buy in the supermarket. But inside every pack of spring bulbs is a riot of colour and scent just waiting to burst out. Sun or shade, a mix of bulbs offers a succession of interest, with early spring crocuses giving way to daffodils, followed by tulips and alliums.

There really is no more useful plant when it comes to planting up borders. Most bulbs are uninvasive, so they can be planted amongst perennials that do not get going until later in the year, thus preventing empty spaces in the border in spring. Snowdrops, for instance, are the perfect