Bulb care Bulbs forced indoors over winter may look sad, but some can be saved. Hyacinths reflower in a year’s time if planted in the garden: cut the flower spike away but leave the foliage to die back, and plant at the same depth in full sun or partial shade. Paperwhite narcissi are a one-time deal unless your garden is super-sheltered, so consign them to the compost heap.
Visit this There’s a hidden gem within the Brutalist facade of London’s Barbican - a conservatory packed with tropical plants and trees. It’s open Sundays from 12-5pm; to book a special tour on 22 April, visit barbican.org.uk.
Plant this The dark maroon flowers of the chocolate vine (Akebia quinata) smell of vanilla rather than cocoa, but don’t let that put you off. It flowers from now into May, and does well in full sun or partial shade. Cut back after flowering: it can reach 10m tall if given free rein.
