Fragrant daffodils for a smelly Spring

Some of my favourite daffodils are the ones that exude a wonderful fragrance in spring and early summer. Some of these scents are so nostalgic, bringing me back to my childhood and wonderful walks through fields and gardens. There is something about the fragrance from a flower, it's like a time machine has been switched on and has taken you back to your childhood.

Some of my favourite fragrant varieties are: Baby Moon; Pipit; Intrigue; Actaea; Pheasant's Eye (very old fashioned variety); Carton; Hawera; Bridal Crown; Topolina; Kokopelli; Pacific Coast.

How about a pot of those at your front door, or maybe on the patio? Who knows, we may have that wonderful weather we had in spring of last year! You will need colour to cheers you up and enjoy the beauty of spring.

I think people have lost the joy of connecting to the earth and have forgotten the pleasure colour can give. Planting 20 or 30 daffodils will only take half an hour and will give you weeks of pleasure in spring.

Bluebells

The Bluebell is another very scented spring flower. As well as bringing a woodland effect to your garden, the perfume from these flowers is intoxicating. Again, a few pots of these your front door, with a bit of driftwood and you have a beautiful woodland effect created with very little effort. These are the last few weeks to get your bulbs planted – come on, the autumn has been lovely so there is no excuse for not getting out into the fresh air and enjoying nature.

A little statistic for you: Irish people are way down the list for being out and about in fresh air and enjoying nature! Let's change that this autumn.

Margaret's tip of the week:

It's a great idea to plant your bulbs in a plastic pot (recycle some) and then plunge them in the ground. When flowering is over and you have got all of the please that these plants have to offer, lift the whole pot out of the ground and hide it somewhere in your garden, so that you won't have to look at the dead foliage of the daffodil.

Free talk at 12 noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday - 'Bulb Planting Made Easy'. All your tips and advice to help you create a garden of colour next spring, and a free goody bag for each person who attends the talk.

Slug Club this Saturday at 3pm! 'Slug Club-Bats, Owls and creatures who spook in the night' - to book your child's place, call 021-7334286.

We would love to hear your feedback!

Any comments or questions on our gardening column? Contact Margaret Griffin at info@griffinsgardencentre.ie, 021- 7334286 or find us on facebook!