Ah - spring has sprung and that's official. I try to keep visits to garden centres to a minimum - all full of ghastly Easter eggs and useless bits of frippery, that you could almost forget that they really should be all about plants. Nurseries are my thing. However, I had need of some seeds ASAP for an overseas friend and as I was wandering around the garden centre the other day I was surprised to see what a good selection of summer, autumn flowering bulbs they had. If you want to add more intricate layers to your garden planting, shoot out or go online and get some choice plants to enjoy later.
The huge Crinum powelli bulbs, available in both pale pink and white flowered varieties should set you back £2.00 -3.00 each, but will bulk up into a robust colony in three years or so provided they're planted a sun-baked hot spot, giving you lavish, exotic blooms for late summer to autumn. An old favourite Acidanthera 'Muriele' (Gladiolus callianthus) will give height (about 90cm/36in) to your borders with their graceful arching stems topped with exotic white, fragrant flowers with sooty-maroon centres.
