September is the month for planning which bulbs are going to add colour to your garden next Spring. Remember bulbs need 14 weeks of cold temperatures to ensure a good root system develops, giving you full Spring blooms. For more advice, visit the RHS website for their top tips.
Earlier this year, our Laura and her husband Luke, cycled 368 miles from Cumbria to Amsterdam on a tandem to admire The Netherlands' famously beautiful, colourful and fragrant flower-bulb fields. Here's her story...
Ever since planting my first bulbs and discovering the joy of growing Tulips, I’ve really wanted to visit the Netherlands at tulip time. They are world famous for their tulip, daffodil and hyacinth fields and we could think of nothing better than a cycling holiday around the miles and miles of tulip fields!
Straight off the ferry, we cycled the 17 miles through gorgeous national parkland to the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens. The park boasts 32 hectares of gardens which showcase 800 different varieties of tulips. Making up the showcase gardens are 7 million bulbs from 500 different flower growers showcasing the best of the Netherlands floriculture sector.
For us, the Keukenhof Gardens were the highlight of our entire Netherlands trip! Although an incredibly popular and busy attraction, the sheer size of the gardens mean that everyone is accommodated and can appreciate the tulip in all its glory.
Stands where you can make your own fresh flower crowns are dotted through different installations and exhibits which celebrate tulips, hyacinths and daffodils. I urge you to visit the Keukenhof gardens at least once in your lifetime at tulip time. The photos will not do it justice!
Laura