Daffodils at Hyde Hall

A dazzling welcome awaits you on the approach to the garden, as the Western Avenue becomes a blaze of yellow in early spring. An impressive 127,000 daffodils bulbs were planted here in recent years.

Early flowering Narcissus ‘February Gold’ is usually the first to bloom. Soon followed by a succession of colour from N. ‘Jack Snipe’, N. ‘Topolino’ and N. ‘W.P. Milner’ among other cultivars.

Head to the Hilltop garden, the historic heart of Hyde Hall, to admire smaller pockets of spring bulbs that offer a wealth of inspiration for home gardens.

Here, in the Shrub Rose Border, the vivid yellow tones of Narcissus enhance the powder blue star-shaped blooms of Scilla forbesii, making for a classic spring colour combination.

Around the Lower Pond, large swathes of Cyclamineus daffodils, known for their swept back petals and pronounced yet elegant trumpets, set off the brightly coloured stems of dogwoods, willows and birches.

Look out for delicate Narcissus cultivars ‘Peeping Tom’, ‘February Gold’ and ‘Rapture’ lighting up the understorey alongside seasonal favourites Bergenia ‘Bressingham Ruby’ and the Lenten rose (Helleborus x hybridus).

Not only do daffodils look fabulous in borders, for a really natural look they can add splashes of bright colour to lawns and meadows when naturalised in grass.

Don’t miss the flowing drifts of daffodils that blanket the north grass bank of the Queen Mother’s Garden. Eye-catching cultivars N. ‘Itzim’ and N. ‘Jetfire’, both with fiery orange trumpets, flourish here.

The Robinson Garden is a delight in spring, with its mix of golden daffodils and delicate, nodding hellebores. The main Narcissus cultivar is ‘Tete-a-tete’; a small-flowered daffodil on short stems, which looks fantastic planted in bold drifts.

There are other gems to discover too, including glorious Edgeworthia chrysantha. This unusual shrub from China has striking yellow flowers covered in white, silky hairs, held on bare stems – they exude a wonderful fragrance.