Usually the end of Summer / early Autumn is not kind to gardens – spring bulbs have long lost their blooms, summer roses are faded and tired and autumn colours are yet to show. The hydrangeas bring a few spots of colour but everything is a bit spent and ready for a sleep through winter. Except for these guys.

Pushing through the grass, Autumn Crocus herald the change of season in a most colourful way. They have been popping up all over the place – in the lawn, in pots, under the trees, in the middle of paths. They are the first of the hidden gems that we have seen – plants lying dormant under the soil, ready to burst forth when the conditions are just right. I can’t wait to see the garden in all seasons – who knows what else we will find!