Bulbs planted in autumn come to life now and deliver vibrant bursts of colour – a joy to see after the dark winter months. Daffodils (more on those overleaf) and tulips are enduring symbols of spring

Pop bulbs in borders or pots now for stunning summer blooms year after year

Mike Palmer celebrates the seasonal awakening of our gardens from their winter slumbers with trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs to get seriously excited about

Now spring is in sight, gorgeous plants herald a new season

Diminutive, varied and wonderfully easy, dwarf daffodils spread early colour through the garden, shining brightly in even the smallest spaces

I was born in the Bollenstreek, the stretch of land between The Hague and Haarlem in the Netherlands, famous all over the world for its bulb fields. My father was a bulb farmer who grew tulips, daffod