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

Mike Palmer uncovers tales of love and passion behind his favourite romantic plants

As the sun sinks over the moat encircling Columbine Hall, reflections of the manor house stretch and soften on the still surface of the water. This is a profoundly romantic setting and, along with the

There comes a time every year, somewhere between the middle of March and the first week of April, when I am possessed by my garden. It runs through my veins like a dancing river, occupies my sleep wit

Erysimum Rysi Copper One of the definitions of a wallflower is that of a shy and awkward person with whom nobody wants to dance: I am sure we have all felt like that at some point in our adolescence.

It was a simple and innocent moment Sarah witnessed as the bus pulled into the stop to drop off a young man, no more than twenty years of age, clutching a bunch of bright daffodils. She was about to t