There is something about every season that appeals to me. Whether crunching through the leaves in autumn or admiring the riot of colour in a summer border. Spring, I see as the season of hopefulness and expectation. Waiting to see the shoots reappear from their winter hibernation. When looking for inspiration for the spring garden, a walk in the countryside is hard to beat.

Finding inspiration

Spotting the violas, anemones and primroses as they emerge in the woodlands. The bright white dots of Anemone nemorosa carpeting the woodland floor or the purple-lilac highlights of Viola odorata. All plants that will happily carpet the bare soil in a shady corner of the garden. Ideal for underplanting a deciduous shrub or two, as their leaves start to unfurl. The daisy like flowers of Anemone blanda come in shades of blue, white and pastels. Anemone nemorosa robinsoniana has very pale lilac, star shaped flowers, adding a hint of colour.

Spring is also a brilliant time of year to walk through local parks and visit public gardens, for inspiration. Flower Show season starts in earnest, in April and May, Malvern, Harrogate and the Chelsea Flower Show.  Many of the bulb growers and nurseries will be at the shows, a chance to choose your favourites.

Spring Bulbs

As the snowdrops come to an end, Narcissus are some of the first spring bulbs, along with crocuses to bloom. I love seeing a cheerful carpet of yellow through the grass, in local parks. Some bulbs work better than others when it comes to planting them through grass (naturalised planting),

• Narcissus pseudonarcissus (wild daffodil) with its pale yellow petals and darker yellow trumpets is a favourite in many parks.
• For a paler variety Narcissus ‘Silver Chimes’ is very pretty.
• Paler still is the white of Actaea with its smaller yellow and red edged centres, looking like a pheasant’s eye.
• Narcissus ‘Saint Keverne’ is pure sunshine yellow.
• The pale mauve of Crocus tommasinianus, either in its own or mixed in with the narcissus.
• A few nodding bells of purple-red snaked head fritillary (Fritallaria meleagris).
• The blue of Camassia leichtlinii or the more vivid, but shorter variety Camassia quamash. Either look stunning scattered through grass, particularly if it has been left to grow a little longer.

Narcissus also have many partial shade loving varieties to scatter around the base of shrubs or trees,

• The white Narcissus ‘Thalia’ is ideal for anyone that is not that keen on yellow flowers. They take over from cyclamen and hellebores, flowering before the irises and geraniums. One of my favourite mix of flowers for a dappled shade space.
• Petrel is a similar white scented variety to Thalia with slightly daintier petals.
• Smaller varieties are often shade tolerant, the bright yellow reflex petals of Narcissus cyclamineus. Or the lemon yellow of Narcissus romieuxii ‘Julia Jane’.

Along with the tall, willowy varieties that are plenty of smaller ones to fill a pot or two with,

• Narcissus ‘Tête à Tête’ is a vibrant shade of yellow.
• Minnow is a paler shade of lemon with a deeper yellow centre.
• The lemon yellow flowers of Arctic Bells.
• Snow baby is a exactly what it sounds like, a small white variety.

Tulips

Tulips come in so many different shades, there is a colour for everyone. My personal favourites are the deep rich purple-reds of Queen of the Night and Havran. Along with a few of the pristine white of White Triumphator and the white and green striped Spring Green. Although, I can’t help but smile when seeing a colourful explosion of tulips planted on mass.

I either like to go to a tulip display of festival, at one of the gardens. Or visit flower shows to choose bulbs. In the meantime here are a few of my go to varieties,

• Purples: The inky intensity of Queen of the Night mixed in with the slender lily shaped Havran. Alternatively, or even as well as, I also like the paler purple of Merlot. The red toned Jan Reus has a velvet like quality to it.
• Whites: Triumphator is a pure white, slender variety that I plant time and time again. Along with the white and green stripes of Spring Green. Sometimes I’ll mix it up with White Flag or the cream and lemon striped Purissima.
• Orange: Prinses Irene with its orange and red petals will complement any of the purple varieties. The pale apricot of Foxtrot, would work well with the purple of Havran.
• Pink: Menton is a variety that I often plant, a pink with a hint of apricot. For a more vivid variety, there is the bright magenta of Barcelona. Or the lily shaped Doll’s Minuet, with a brush of green in the centre of the petals.
• Yellow: There are an amazing array of yellow varieties to choose from. Sunny Prince looks exactly as it sounds or the lemon yellow of Avant-garde. Cream Cocktail has frothy looking cream edges to the petals, with yellow centres.
• Mixing it up: Some of the varieties have two colours to the flower. One of the simplest way to add more colour in a small space. Gavota has deep red petals edged with yellow edges. Rem’s Favourite combines the purple and white in one flower. While Peppermint Stick is a really pretty variety in pink and white.

Species tulips

Some of the smaller species tulips, are perfect for the front of a border. They don’t mind a little shade either. Tulipa humilis ‘Alba Coerulea Oculata’ is white with a lilac splodge in the centre. Whereas Tulipa sprengeri is a more vibrant pink variety. Tulipa ‘Bright Gem’ lighten up any border or pot with its sunshine yellow petals.

Mixing it up

It doesn’t always have to be one species of bulb.  The tall, bright orange Fritallaria imperialis, against the tulips and intense blue of muscari (grape hyacinths) around the edges. Perhaps the purple Queen of the Night and Merlot with the elegant Fritallaria persica. Playing with height against the tulips, adds an extra dimension of interest.

Blossom

If I had to pick a favourite sign that spring had arrived, it would be blossom. There is something about looking up at blossom against a bright blue sky. It is still on my bucket list to visit Japan during the cherry blossom festival. Cherry blossom or Sakura are seen as a time of renewal and optimism. In the Shinto religion the Sakura are thought to hold sacred spirits. And in Buddhism the cherry blossom symbolises the transient nature of life. Best of all there is a suitable tree for any size garden, including small ones,

• One of my favourites for small spaces, is an early flowering variety Prunus mume ‘Beni-chidori’. The vibrant pink flowers appear from February and it will even happily flower in a pot.
• Prunus tomentosa, is grown as a shrub with delicate white flowers.
• Prunus ‘The Bride’ is another white flowered favourite for small gardens. As a focal point in the middle of a border or centre of a courtyard garden. The other way I like to use it, is by planting a pair either side of an entrance.
• In more informal or larger spaces Prunus ‘Kiku-shidare-zakura’ is a slightly larger weeping form with pale pink flowers,
• For anyone that likes a deeper shade of pink, Prunus ‘Kursar’ is ideal. The foliage will put on a show in autumn, with the leaves will turn yellow and red.

Extending the season of interest

I enjoying seeing the spring air filled with blossom. However, I am often looking for a tree that will provide interest throughout the year. Whether that is because the tree has interesting bark in winter. A firework display of colourful foliage in autumn or fruit, once the blossom is over. The joy of going out into the garden to eat fruit straight off the tree.

Fruit Trees

When it comes to choosing apples it often comes down to personal preference. Do you like red or green apples or green with a rosy tint to the skin. Sweet apples or a sharper, crisper taste. Cooking or dessert apples, or something like a James Grieve which is dual purpose. Personally I like to grow varieties that I won’t see in the supermarket. The names alone are entertaining, Pitmaston Pineapple or Dog’s Snout, for example. Pear trees have a smaller selection to choose from and Victoria is the most reliable variety of plum. The vibrant red fruits of Opal are often said to have the best flavour of any homegrown plum.

• Sizes: Fruit trees are grafted onto rootstocks, ranging from small enough to grow in a pot to commercial orchard size. It all depends on how much space is available.
• Stepovers: Get their name from being low enough to stepover, ideal for a small garden. They work equally well marking out an area of the garden, perhaps around a dining table. Without blocking out the view of the rest of the garden. Alternatively as to create a less formal edging to a path or parterre. Planting can then be added behind the stepovers or herbs can be grown underneath them.
• Fan-trained or espaliers: An ideal way of squeezing fruit, along with a hit of blossom. Perfect to train along a wall or fence or to divide up the garden into separate spaces. Most varieties of apples and pears are available as fan-trained fruit, so it’s just a matter of choosing what you’d like to grow.

Crab apples, to make jelly or providing food for the birds, have a long season of interest. Starting with blossom in spring and leaves in summer that turn through autumnal shades. While the fruit often hangs on, after the leaves have dropped and until the birds eat them. One of the most reliable varieties is the bright red fruits of Malus x robusta ‘Red Sentinel’. They come in varieties with yellow fruits (Golden Hornet or Butterball) and orange (John Downie) too. Although my favourite, and one that I grow is Malus ‘Harry Baker’. Filled with vibrant pink flowers in spring and deep red-purple fruits in autumn. It is the colour of the fruit that I particularly love. Although it tends to drop them far more quickly than Red Sentinel.

Planting

While trees are available all year, the best time to plant is from November to March. This is the dormant season, allowing them a chance to become established. Deciduous trees can be planted as bare root (dug up straight from the field) or from pots. While evergreen trees are often available as root-balls (the roots along with some soil will be wrapped in hessian) or in pots.

There is plenty of time to plant a spring garden. And during the rest of the year, enjoy the opportunity to take a walk with a notebook and plan.

Camilla Grayley is an experienced garden designer, speaker and writer based in York. She designs gardens and delivers garden consultancy services for clients in Yorkshire and across the UK. Get in touch if you’d like help planning your garden for 2026 on 07887 926095 or info@camillagrayleydesign.com