Spring flowering bulbs are gardening's ultimate return on investment. Planted from September through November, these botanical powerhouses burst forth from winter's grip with waves of colour that evolve from the first snowdrops after Christmas through magnificent tulips and alliums in late May.

What sets bulbs apart from other garden plants is their remarkable ability to naturalize—multiplying year after year with zero additional effort. Plant a single daffodil bulb this autumn, and next spring you'll have your first golden trumpet. By the following year, you might have two or three flowers, and within a few seasons, a magnificent clump that can be divided to spread beauty throughout your garden.

The sheer versatility of spring bulbs makes them indispensable for gardeners of all experience levels. They thrive in sun or shade, containers or borders, under trees or naturalized in lawns. Their only nemesis is waterlogged soil, making proper drainage their sole critical requirement. Planting couldn't be simpler—just dig a hole roughly three times the bulb's depth, place it pointy-side up, and let nature handle the rest.

For container gardeners, "lasagna planting" offers extraordinary value, creating months of continuous blooms from a single pot. By layering different varieties at varying depths—typically with late-flowering alliums or tulips at the bottom, mid-season daffodils in the middle, and early crocuses near the surface—you create a self-sustaining display that evolves from February through May.

From dramatic alliums with their perfect spherical blooms to vibrant tulips, cheerful daffodils, delicate muscari, and unusual fritillaria, the diversity of spring bulbs offers something for every garden aesthetic. Whether you're seeking high-impact displays with colour-coordinated combinations or rare collector varieties with fascinating histories, autumn is the time to plan and plant.

Don't miss this opportunity to create a self-perpetuating display that delivers maximum joy when gardens need it most. The bulbs you plant today truly represent gardening's highest impact for lowest input—they're the gift that keeps on giving for years to come. Ready to transform your spring garden? Start planting now!

Listen back to EP199 with Dave & Jules from Esker Farm Daffodils 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/857398/episodes/13849995

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Until next week
Happy gardening
John