From the daffodil heralding the start of the spring flowering to cyclamen in autumn, bulbs play a valuable part in adding colour to your garden year round.

Keep the momentum going after the spring displays by planting some summer flowering bulbs.

Either layering them up in a container, or straight in the ground, there is a bulb for every situation and taste. Always reminding me of the Chelsea flower show, the allium is such a showstopper with its globe type seed heads adding structure to any border.

For the largest heads of 20cm in diameter in June-July allium christophii is the one to try.

For tightly packed white flower heads from June onwards try allium Mount Everest.

Alliums prefer a sunny, well-drained position

Flamboyant blooms and sensational fragrance are what we associate with the oriental lily.

Preferring containers this makes it easier for you to move them to centre stage for their big moment then move them to backstage when they fade.

To avoid pollen stains try lily china girl as it is pollen free. Full sun or semi shade suits lilies.

I think they look very elegant, some people consider them old fashioned, either way you can’t deny gladioli are a show stopper and modern hybrids have kept this versatile bulb up to date.

Gladioli like a position in full sun.

For brilliant red flowers try gladiolus trader horn paired with the acid-green of gladiolus green star.

The ruffled blooms of the bearded iris are always popular and as they like an open sunny spot they are good in any dry spot you may have.

This is so the tubers can bake in the sun without being shaded by other plants. For exotic ruffled mauve pink blooms try gladiolus tango. If you plant gladioli at two-week intervals you can have blooms all summer long.