TO LOVE: Daffodil "Binkie"
Many years ago, some daffodil seed was sent halfway round the world from Northern Ireland to Tasmania and one of the seedlings turned out to be what is known in the trade as a reversed bicolour. Named "Binkie", it can now be found all over the world. Twin heads open with petals in a decidedly lemony or even limey shade of yellow, with a darker edge and a paler centre. The cup has the reverse colouring, with a dark centre and a pale, slightly fluted, edge. It's very stylish and looks great in a vase. It grows to a height of about 35cm and flowers later than most, in early April. Worth looking for when the bulbs hit the shops next summer.
TO DO: PREPARE AND PROTECT Slugs and snails are top of most people's Hated Garden Pests list. Don't use slug pellets, they're dangerous, expensive and not that effective; there are some other tried and tested techniques to discourage munching by the slime brigade. When you're sowing vegetable crops in rows, leave enough space to get a hoe in between, and hoe regularly as not only does this stop the soil drying out, and young seedlings are very vulnerable to over-dry soil, it disturbs the eggs of the most rapacious types of slugs and they dry out instead. Another good tip is to be pernickety - never leave decaying plant material anywhere near young seedlings. Remove dead and fading leaves and put them on the compost heap. When you've harvested crops down to the stump, clear them away otherwise the scent will attract slugs. Give young plants a chance to harden up in the open air on a slug-proof table or bench first, to make them too tough for the slugs. Precious seedlings can be protected with a mini-greenhouse. Save your plastic water bottles and their lids, cut the bottoms off, make a few very small ventilation holes at the top, and push them firmly into the soil to make a mini cloche over young plants. Some plants can't cope with the moist atmosphere of cloches, though, so protect them by making a mulch exclusion zone of sharp crushed seashells, very sharp grit or even bran. Mulching is a good way to minimise watering but don't use grass clippings or plastic for young plants as it simply provides perfect cover for slugs. If all this sounds too time-consuming, now is the time to order nematodes and keep them ready to apply to moist soil as soon as the temperature is steady at over 15C.
TO SEE: Brodie Castle, Brodie, Forres. Open daily.
This ancient castle, home to the same family for some 800 years, is always worth a visit but right now the grounds are carpeted with the widest collection of daffodils you'll find. You're also free to explore sheltered woodland walks, and stroll by the pond where you can observe the estate's varied wildlife.
Finlaystone, Langbank, Renfrewshire. Open all year 10am-5pm.
With a historic connection to John Knox and Robert Burns, these richly-varied gardens with unusual plants sit overlooking the Clyde. Worth visiting now for the profusion of daffodils and soon there will be early rhododendrons. There are waterfalls and a pond, and woodland walks with play and picnic areas. There are also plants for sale, teas, and wheelchair access. www.finlaystone.co.uk
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