Roger visited us to show us round the world of commercial and home horticulture, particularly the massive business of Spring bulbs.

Roger confirmed that this was a particularly good time to talk about Spring flowering bulbs, albeit we have seen Spring, Summer and Autumn weather this week, and the more hysterical media are predicting Winter again next week.

He has spent 50 years in professional horticulture and has recently retired to his own garden, although his plans for various talks sounded busy to me. Roger took us photographically to the Dutch bulb fields, which are always a stunning display. The colours are laid out in strips to the width of tractor wheels, so that the machinery can manage one strip at a time; as with many things it seems obvious when someone has explained it.

Development of new types within the bulb market led to an extraordinary status symbol in the 17^th Century, with unusual varieties soaring to astronomical prices. A single bulb could change hands for the price of a house and fortunes were made, and often lost just as quickly. New colours in Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinths are regularly being developed and take around six years to develop to full growth. Roger explained the commercial growing process, which includes deliberately flooding the fields from nearby canals every few years. This sterilizes the ground, and flat low lying areas are best for this approach which is why Holland and Lincolnshire are the main growing areas. All planting is now by machine and it doesn’t matter which way up a bulb is planted, it will grow upwards anyway.

Roger provided many tips and hints for amateur gardeners and we all gained a vastly better understanding of what we should be doing in the garden at this time of year. I expect to see great things in the gardens of Ryedale in years to come. All in all, a fascinating presentation, even for those of us without green fingers, which definitely includes me!