I absolutely can't resist tulips. Their colours sing out at this time of year when everything is so green and fresh. I'll have a go at naming the ones pictured, but to be honest I don't really care what variety they are, they are all lovely and so easy. The only problem we have at Charnwood is that the squirrels eat them, so I soak them in tonic water with quinine first, they are not supposed to like the taste and it works to some extent.This year I have also tried planting them in pots with smelly alliums, that seems to have worked too, although I'm not sure if they will flower together as intended! The advantage of planting them in pots is that you can give them the well drained soil they like, and you can move them round to where you want them and out of the way when done. I usually pop them into a border after they have flowered and died down a bit, they often come up again next year, albeit with smaller flowers. In fact all the ones pictured are in beds here with a bit of grit dug in to lighten the heavy clay and they come up reasonably reliably every year, although I do add to them if I remember and manage to plant them in the right place.

Here goes, but please don't quote me, from left to right: Little Princess, White Dream, Van de Neer. All out and looking good now in mid April. We have more coming later, hopefully when the garden is open on 6/7 May.