Spring bulbs and blossom suit a slightly wild area or where a formal garden merges into woodland. Many spring flowers are adapted to catching the spring sun before tree foliage comes out and makes the spot shady later on. Planting on a slope means that you see the blooms in more detail. Small bulbs and plants in soft pastel colours canopied by delicate blossom merge together to create a gentle and romantic look.

Preparation and planting
1. Clear and dig over the main area for planting, removing any perennial weeds.
2. Plant the magnolia and prunus (cherry), staking them if necessary. Ideally, do this in autumn or winter although if the trees are container grown they can be planted any time.
3. Plant the hellebores randomly to look as natural as possible.
4. Plant the bulbs (narcissus, muscari, chionodoxa and scilla) around the hellebores in small groups and drifts. For the most natural effect, scatter the bulbs and plant them where they fall.
5. Finally, plant pot-grown primroses and erythroniums. For ground cover, plant spreading Vinca minor (lesser periwinkle) and Tiarella wherryi.

Spring plant list
1. Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel'
2. Prunus 'Ukon'
3. Helleborus foetidus
4. Helleborus x sternii 'Boughton Beauty'
5. Pink/cream hellebores (Lenten Rose)
6. Narcissus lobularis
7. Narcissus 'Jenny'
8. Primula veris (primrose)
9. Muscari azureum
10. Erythronium 'Pagoda'
11. Chionodoxa forbesii 'Pink Giant'
12. Scilla siberica 'Spring Beauty'

APRIL 2004
ORIGINAL IDEA JANE NEWDICK
ILLUSTRATION BETTY BIB