Colour is all important in the garden especially during the cooler months and adds interest as a foil to annuals and the last throes of colour from the foundation plants.

Bulbs are interesting focal points with their wide range of colours and bloom configuration, large, small, round, and tubular and fragrance being the main attributes.

A wide range of bulbs are now available in the local nurseries and include the following.

Amaryllis belladonna has rosy pink tubular flowers borne on stalks to twenty four inches long; hybrids are also worthy of consideration as they too will make a striking appearance when in full bloom.

Iris are rather rigid in their appearance but make up for this by the intense colour of the flowers, especially the blues and yellows.

Iris can also be grown in pots for patio display or in deeper pans for plunging in the garden just as the flowers start to show bud opening; after flowering remove pan and replant with annuals to fill gap.

Narcissus or daffodils are usually known for their strong yellow cup and tubular shaped blooms, some varieties have a white corolla and when massed under a tree or a border certainly make a bold statement.

Narcissus tazetta commonly known as jonquil or paperwhite has a fragrant white flower and yellow centre; these also do well in mass plantings; flowers are smaller than the daffodil.

Freesias are an old favourite; whether used in pots or simply strewn under canopy trees to naturalise the blooms colour and fragrance are always worth the effort and cheer up any dull day.

Tulips are best grown in containers on a patio or for the house; if planting in the ground it is best to plunge them just prior to flowering as they require protection from wind and heavy rains.

Crocus have flute shaped flowers and usually attain a height of six to nine inches; collectively they form a carpet of colour when in full bloom, and prefer some shade; try and naturalise under canopy trees like Ebony (Albizzia lebbek) or Poinciana (Delonix regia).

Varieties come in purple, pink, white, yellow, blue and combinations of each.

Chionodoxa or Glory of the Snow is very colourful being found in white, yellow blue and pink with variations of colour in many hybrids.

When planted in drifts they should have a background of dark green foliage in order to highlight the blossoms.

Other bulbous plants to look out for over the winter months include long-lived plantings and short-lived seasonal bulbs. Keep an eye out for the following.

Eucharis amazonica whose strong fragrant white drooping flowers supported by dark green wide strap-like foliage will certainly create comment when in full bloom; grow in shade and needs protection.

Nerine varieties or Guernsey lilies will produce flowers prior to producing foliage; flowers come in rose, pink and white.

Planting close together to create a mass of colour when in full bloom makes a solid showing especially if the surrounding plantings are of an evergreen nature.

Some local bulbous plants which can be propagated naturally and should be grown more include the Zephyranthes commonly called Rain lily or Bermuda Crocus.

They have fine grass like foliage and flowers of white, lemon yellow or pink.

When strewn over naturalised areas their appearance after rain showers following a dry period creates an immediate splash of colour.

Sisyrinchium or Bermudiana needs no introduction but alas is not now as common as it could be.

Collecting seed and broadcasting over 'rough' lawns or open land will encourage the distribution of these attractive and welcome bloomers in the landscape.

Pink bermudiana (Lapeirousia laxa) is of a similar type to the common Bermudiana; reddish pink flowers appear in spring. After seeding remove and scatter in naturalised and unmown areas for establishment.

Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum) are also in decline and should be planted in naturalised or waste green areas; propagate by lifting older bulbs after foliage has died down and remove young scales and grow on for several years until flowering takes place.

Canna or Indian shot have always been popular as a mass planting as has been seen over the years in the Paraquet Restaurant gardens.

Colour blooms of red, yellow, orange and pink adorn green or bronze foliage. One major problem is the leaf rolling caterpillar which can strip the foliage bare in very quick time.

The above listing of bulbs covers a wide range of types many flowering during the cooler months and offering colour and interest during a rather 'inactive' time in the garden.

Planting en masse offers bold statements when in flower, but leaves gaps when the leaves are dying down; in such cases planting annuals revives the interest level for the 'dull' area.

I prefer to plant in drifts contingent on the genus as large strap like foliage such as Amazon Lily is best seen in a less dense drift than for example tulips.

Daffodils including paperwhites do make a better display when in drifts, but an even better display when highlighted by surrounding dark green foliage which acts like a picture frame or back-drop.

Planting in pots or pans and plunging in and amongst foundation plantings extends the interest level of the garden or simply having a collection of pots on the patio each with a different species will lighten up any dull day and create a topic of interest.