Spring Begins Beneath Our Feet

If you wander past the lawn in front of the Kitchen Garden this week you might notice the ground looking a little more worked than usual. That small change hides a much bigger moment. The garden team have just tucked sixty thousand spring bulbs into the turf.

This new planting is a bee friendly mix chosen to create a long, steady display from the end of February all the way into May. Crocus, chionodoxa, narcissus, muscari and species tulips have all been layered through the lawn. Each one will take its turn, creating a gentle wave of colour that rolls through late winter and spring.

The first crocus should appear when the days are still short, offering precious nectar just when early pollinators need it most. The chionodoxa and muscari will follow, with the narcissus bringing height and sunshine brightness. The species tulips arrive later giving a final lift before the season turns fully to summer.

Although most visitors will see the full effect in spring 2026, this is more than a one year display. The mix has been selected to return again and again. Some bulbs, including the crocus, should naturalise over time and slowly spread through the grass creating an even richer carpet of colour in future years.

Right now the work lies hidden underground. In a few months this quiet border will become one of the earliest signs of spring at Heligan.