This month marks the first outingof the year for one of my favourite words. We have struggled through the dingy dog-end days of winter, and one day, early this month, we will open the door to the first proper spring day – a day when the birds will be going full blast, the tulips will be flowering and leaves will be popping out. The first day when you can sit on a bench and feel the warmth of the sun on your skin after so many cold months. This magnificent moment can be referred to as Apricity, and despite the word being specific to winter, it works for me here and it feels so good.
WORDS JAMES ALEXANDER-SINCLAIR
STAR OF THE MONTHDodecatheon pulchellum ‘Red Wings’
One of our more curious-looking garden flowers, they look as if they have been turned inside out, which gives them a particular aerodynamic profile – like a flock of determined (but friendly) garden birds descending on full feeders from an azure sky. You can see why they have the common name of Alpine Shooting Star. Getting away from the whimsical stuff for a moment, they are, in fact, one of the joys of a spring shade garden: a plant that adds fizz to ferns, heft to hostas and pinky pep to primroses. Closely related to the cyclamen.
Plant as bulbs. In colder areas, protect plants with mulch over winter.
Height x Spread 30cm x 15cm
FINE AND DANDY
I have no idea why this is named after the Emperor as I can think of few points that they might have had in common. A pleasant scent? Unlikely with all that campaigning. A small alpine? Contrary to myth, Napoleon was actually quite tall for his time. It does have finely cut foliage and our chum Bonaparte was quite a dashing dresser but that is about all I can come up with.
Primula marginata ‘Napoleon’
Best in an acidic or neutral soil. Very attractive powdery foliage – best protected from the worst of the rain. H x S25cm x 20cm
COPPER TOP
A dab of orange is exactly what everybody needs at this time of year. A change from the yellow of narcissus and an excellent warm-up for the munificence of May just around the corner. I discovered this tulip a couple of years ago and it has rapidly become one of my favourites for pots and borders. It has a certain softness to its petals – a bit like caramel on honeycomb.
Tulipa ‘Cairo’
Plant bulbs in late autumn – get your other spring beauties in the ground first as there’s no need to rush with these.
H x S 45cm x 10c
