Tulips in May

The tulips are here looking lovely. We haven't got that many this year but we always plant at least enough for a wedding or two, and we make sure we choose the more unusual varieties that you don't see so often in the shops! They really are a versatile cut flower as they can come in several forms, my favourite being the double types, e.g "Angelique" (pale pink) and "Mount Tacoma" (white) which have more petals and look lovely in a mixed bridal bouquet. We are madly in love with double flowers here but always bear in mind that they don't make good flowers for pollinating insects so we make sure that we plant other nectar-rich things to make up for this. See http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Sustainable-gardening/Plants-for-pollinators

Spring hand-tied with tulips, narcissus and anemones

Tulips in our cutting garden, taken by James Balston

Tulips and Madge taken by James Balston

Tulips and larkspur taken by James Balston

Princess Irene tulips in our garden taken by James Balston