not just tulips

Although I've been to the bulb fields once before, it was later in the season and the hyacinths had finished. But this time they were at their peak - enormous, floriferous, vibrantly coloured - and there were huge streaks of purple, indigo, lilac, cerise, pink, and white across the landscape. To walk by or next to one was to be overwhelmed by their perfume. So I've decided to pay more attention to hyacinths from now on; from what I saw in the fields, I would say there are going to be some really beautiful hyacinths available in the coming years.

I also saw a huge variety of muscari in the Keukenhof, planted with other bulbs or on their own. This 'river' is Muscari latifolium which has interesting flowers and is very easy to grow, and the 'banks' are T. sylvestris, or the wild tulip, which is beautifully slender and graceful, and whose head nods in the breeze.

This time I also saw huge amounts of daffodils in the fields and in the park. Mostly yellows and whites, some with spots of glowing orange, all of which are fresh and springlike, but none of the 'pink' - but not quite pink - varieties that were so popular a while ago but were never quite as good as  touted.

And here's a way of planting hyacinths in the garden. First order a few thousand bulbs...