Rain, rain and more rain! Thousands of column inches and broadcast hours have already been dedicated to the deluge and terrible flooding we have had in Oxfordshire as well as the rest of the country.

So I have decided not to dwell on it here, but instead talk about another and more cheery wonder you can see right now – Snowdrops.

Guaranteed to raise your spirits, snowdrops are the first heralds of spring and every year I look forward seeing them emerge, bright and milky-white after a dark, dull winter with their promise of warmer, happier days to come. Despite their delicate appearance they are very hardy. Blessed with a natural type of antifreeze in their leaves they can cope with freezing cold temperatures. But as soon as the temperature rises to 10 degrees Celsius, the snowdrop will open its petals wide to allow insects to pollinate it. When the temperature cools again the petals close around it like a warm blanket.

Snowdrops are very easy to grow and if you buy them whilst they are “in the green”, which means with their leaves, then you will almost certainly be successful. If you are using bulbs which are not in the green then they need to be fresh and planted as soon as possible as snowdrop (Galanthus) bulbs are very prone to moisture loss.

As long as the soil is moist, snowdrops will produce many new plants which make an excellent and welcome gift for friends. Now is the time to lift and divide if you are lucky enough to already have them in your garden.

It is worth mentioning another flower that can be grown in and amongst clumps of snowdrops, and that is the Winter Aconite. First introduced into this country from Southern Europe and now happily growing in the wild. The mix of white and yellow flowers against a green, grassy bank looks particularly lovely. It is always nice to do something a little bit different.

Lilies can also be planted at this time of year providing you are not planting into heavy clay. Dig a hole, so that you are planting three times the height of the bulb, sprinkle in a little grit for drainage and plant the bulb so that the flatter part (where the roots will emerge) is at the bottom. Cover and wait impatiently!

Something I love to do for our clients is make up a container layered with different bulbs so that they grow and bloom in succession, giving a changing display as the seasons pass. These containers are a perfect idea for small spaces and once you have prepared them – that’s it, you just leave them to happily bloom away.

The best time to do this is in September/October time. Take a container of a reasonable size, put a layer of broken pottery or gravel then layer with compost. Plant a few of your largest bulbs (such as large-flowered daffodils) at the bottom, layer with compost and then plant some smaller bulbs (such as tulips) and then cover. For your final layer, use a dwarf bulb such as a crocus and then finish off with another layer of compost. Keep your container watered as the roots are forming and if there is a period of frost, wrap and cover with cloth until the bad weather passes. Enjoy!