Festive FLOWERS

Bring some spring magic into your home with early-flowering bulbs for Christmas and New Year

- CHRIS MORLEY

All in the prep

It may seem early to think about Christmas, but to have a gorgeous container of flowering plants for the festive table, or to give one as a gift, you have to prepare them well in advance. The trick is to create a period of cold ‘winter’, then bring the bulbs into spring-like conditions of light and warmth, to entice them into flower. This process of ‘forcing’ is easy to do – all you need is a little patience!

Dainty daffs