Flo Whitaker

Short winter days are on the way, but hyacinth and narcissi bulbs can be grown in pots to enjoy indoors. Get planting quickly and some could even be in flower by Christmas, says Flo Whitaker... When buying hyacinth bulbs, you’ll find two distinct types; ‘standard/non-prepared’ and ‘prepared’. Standard hyacinths are primarily used to give an outdoor display in March/April. You can also fill pots of them to bring inside as they commence flowering, but non-prepared types cannot easily be hurried...

Scorching weather often reduces gardens (and gardeners!) to a parched, shabby mess, but a targeted programme of watering and cutting back can work wonders

Iris, the Grecian messenger of the Olympian Gods, flew in a rainbow ribbon of celestial light - such sumptuous flowers could not be better named. And, on a more down-to-earth note, pesky squirrels, deer and rabbits leave them alone,