I've just spent a lovely day in the garden digging up big clumps of snowdrops and re-planting them in bare patches of soil to get a bigger, better show next year. I put a load among my hostas as I don't move them around often, they are late to come through and they don't seem to mind the intrusion.

Garden wisdom has always, to my knowledge at least, told us that we should do this at this time of year. But recent research now argues against it. Not suprising really; to dig up a bulb that has just flowered and expect it to carry on thriving straight after you've stuck it back in the ground is a big ask. But it does seem to work, and has the added advantage of being able to see where the gaps are you need to plant them in. If, like me, you've got thousands of them all over the garden, how do you know where they are to dig up when they are dormant? If they take a couple of years to settle down again, does it really matter? So I will stick with the old ways.

'February Gold' daffodils(pictured today) are just coming out - we have big clumps in the back garden at Charnwood. It's a gorgeous, easy variety, last ages and is natural looking and not too ornamental if that's your style. 'February Silver' is also there, it comes out a little later. Softer colour, but also lovely. Presumably whovever named them lives in a warmer area than here! Suppose 'March Gold' doesn't have the same ring to it?