Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol

Now&#8217;s the time to get some bulbs into the ground to ensure a mood-boosting display next spring. But what to plant ? Who better to ask than the people at <a href="https://www.comptonacres.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Compton Acres</a> in Poole, said to be one of the UK’s most beautiful ornamental gardens, with five themed areas reflecting the world travels of the original owner and an impressive 3,000 species of herbaceous plant, shrubs and trees. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-compton-acres-168845887_3741062912614639_2252218720178883503_n.jpg" alt="compton acres spring flowers" class="wp-image-88804" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-compton-acres-168845887_3741062912614639_2252218720178883503_n.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-compton-acres-168845887_3741062912614639_2252218720178883503_n-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-compton-acres-168845887_3741062912614639_2252218720178883503_n-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-compton-acres-168845887_3741062912614639_2252218720178883503_n-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-compton-acres-168845887_3741062912614639_2252218720178883503_n-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Compton Acres</figcaption></figure>



Here&#8217;s what one of their plant experts, Denise Clarke, suggests we should be planting now, ready to bloom next year. All these bulbs should be readily available from your local garden centre, online or from Compton Acres&#8217; <a href="https://www.comptonacres.co.uk/the-plant-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plant Centre. </a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-narcissi">Narcissi</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="702" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/narcissus-4967729_1280-image-Iand-Lindsay-from-Pixabay.jpg" alt="narcissus spring bulbs " class="wp-image-88794" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/narcissus-4967729_1280-image-Iand-Lindsay-from-Pixabay.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/narcissus-4967729_1280-image-Iand-Lindsay-from-Pixabay-800x562.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/narcissus-4967729_1280-image-Iand-Lindsay-from-Pixabay-400x281.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/narcissus-4967729_1280-image-Iand-Lindsay-from-Pixabay-768x539.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/narcissus-4967729_1280-image-Iand-Lindsay-from-Pixabay-748x525.jpg 748w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Lindsay for Pixabay</figcaption></figure>



Tete a tete are a miniature variety with deep yellow blooms that are work well in pots on a balcony or patio, at the front of a border, or naturalised in lawns.&nbsp; Plant in a pot with winter pansies to give added colour in March/April. For fragrance, plant the delicate, pale yellow Hawera. Go beyond yellow with beautiful, large-cupped Rainbow&#8217;s yellow inner and orange-edged trumpets that grow up to 50cm tall and flower in April, or Kimmeridge&#8217;s white petals and frilly orange-edged trumpets which flower in March/April.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hyacinths </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-hyacinth-image-from-rawpixel-id-5957770-jpeg-1000x750.jpg" alt="Hyacinth " class="wp-image-88781" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-hyacinth-image-from-rawpixel-id-5957770-jpeg-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-hyacinth-image-from-rawpixel-id-5957770-jpeg-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-hyacinth-image-from-rawpixel-id-5957770-jpeg-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-hyacinth-image-from-rawpixel-id-5957770-jpeg-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-hyacinth-image-from-rawpixel-id-5957770-jpeg-700x525.jpg 700w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-hyacinth-image-from-rawpixel-id-5957770-jpeg.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Free public domain CC0 photo, Rawpixel</figcaption></figure>



Hyacinth are great for colour and fragrance in the home where they flower in February and in the garden where they flower in March/April. Jan Bos is a beautiful, rich pink variety.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tulips</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="643" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-tulips-image-from-rawpixel-id-3338330-original-1000x643.jpg" alt="Tulips" class="wp-image-88782" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-tulips-image-from-rawpixel-id-3338330-original-1000x643.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-tulips-image-from-rawpixel-id-3338330-original-800x514.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-tulips-image-from-rawpixel-id-3338330-original-400x257.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-tulips-image-from-rawpixel-id-3338330-original-768x494.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-tulips-image-from-rawpixel-id-3338330-original-817x525.jpg 817w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-tulips-image-from-rawpixel-id-3338330-original.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Original public domain image from Wikimedia Commons</figcaption></figure>



Create a stunning border by planting Queen of Night a tall, dark and dramatic tulip with dark purple – almost black – petals, with the orange tulip Ballerina. Flowers March/April.



The beautiful, tall and elegant lily-shaped White Triumphator with its pointed petals, looks&nbsp;lovely planted with silver-leafed cineraria and a trailing ivy in a pot. Flowers March/April.



Fill a pot with a fiery, red feathered Red Madonna&nbsp;for standout colour on a patio or pretty in a border with forget-me-nots underneath. Flowers May/June.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dog&#8217;s Tooth Violets</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/Erythronium_pagoda.jpg" alt="dog's tooth violet" class="wp-image-88856" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/Erythronium_pagoda.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/Erythronium_pagoda-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/Erythronium_pagoda-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/Erythronium_pagoda-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/Erythronium_pagoda-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Part of the lily family and closely related to tulips, dog&#8217;s tooth violet (erythronium) are perfect for a shady spot – they look wonderful in naturalistic drifts – and equally happy in a pot. One of my favourite varieties, Pagoda, is yellow with flowers that resemble the shape of a pagoda and attractive mottled leaves. Flowers March/April.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fritillaries</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/chequered-7087987_1280-Mariya-from-Pixabay--1000x666.jpg" alt="Fritillary" class="wp-image-88784" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/chequered-7087987_1280-Mariya-from-Pixabay--1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/chequered-7087987_1280-Mariya-from-Pixabay--800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/chequered-7087987_1280-Mariya-from-Pixabay--400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/chequered-7087987_1280-Mariya-from-Pixabay--768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/chequered-7087987_1280-Mariya-from-Pixabay--788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/chequered-7087987_1280-Mariya-from-Pixabay-.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Mariya from Pixabay</figcaption></figure>



A great plant for shade and for naturalising under trees, the snake&#8217;s head fritillary&#8217;s nodding, purple chequer board heads flower in April/May.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Alliums</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="685" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-allium-image-from-rawpixel-id-6041929-jpeg-1000x685.jpg" alt="allium " class="wp-image-88780" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-allium-image-from-rawpixel-id-6041929-jpeg-1000x685.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-allium-image-from-rawpixel-id-6041929-jpeg-800x548.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-allium-image-from-rawpixel-id-6041929-jpeg-400x274.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-allium-image-from-rawpixel-id-6041929-jpeg-768x526.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-allium-image-from-rawpixel-id-6041929-jpeg-766x525.jpg 766w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-allium-image-from-rawpixel-id-6041929-jpeg.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Rawpixel</figcaption></figure>



Make a statement in a sunny mixed border with Purple Sensation&#8217;s tall and elegant stems of purple pompom flowers, which grow to nearly a metre high in May/June.&nbsp;

Bung in some bulbs! Compton Acres in Poole advises what to plant now

You may also like