“Bulbs are the secret to spring colour”

Rare and unusual bulbs fill the borders of this countryside idyll. Owners Jane and Rod Leeds share its secrets

IN THE GARDEN WITH…

This country garden in Suffolk is transformed by a sea of colourful flowers and foliage in spring. “This is undoubtedly our most spectacular time of year,” says owner Jane Leeds, who lives here with her husband Rod. “The garden becomes a real feast for the eyes, with a beautiful and colourful mixture of rare and unusual bulbs, and new plants unfurling into life.” The garden is delightfully private, tucked away at the end of a narrow lane. “We discovered the house in 1971 – it was a derelict cottage standing in a field with a couple of apple trees. Although we set about renovating the house first, we soon found our attention being drawn outside. Rod turned to the garden as a respite after work and became fascinated by the bulbs.” Rod, now a retired head teacher, turned his fascination to good use, writing several books on bulbs including The Plantfinder’s Guide to Early Bulbs. He’s a former president of the Alpine Garden Society, while Jane is also a local organiser and judge. “We started our collection with just a few daffodils and cyclamen,” says Jane. “But as our interest and passion for AT The Chestnuts, near Sudbury, Suffolk GARDEN SIZE One acre SITE North-facing back garden; south-facing front SOIL Neutral-to-alkaline loam with underlying boulder clay FEATURES Cottage garden planting style; rare and unusual bulb collections; naturalised fritillaries; spring-flowering shrubs

This is undoubtedly our most spectacular time of year