One of the best ways of learning is to consult an expert and there are plenty of opportunities for gardeners in the Cotswolds.
February sees the snowdrop season get underway and the return of the popular Colesbourne Park study day.
This year, head gardener Chris Horsfall will be giving his first lecture, entitled ‘Never Waste a Bulb’. In it he will outline a typical year at Colesbourne (pictured above) and how he manages the garden.
In addition, ‘More Special Snowdrops’ by galanthophile Jim Almond will feature some unusual varieties and will give tips on everything from twin scaling to photography.
Numbers for the study day on February 11 are limited to 35 and places cost £35 per person to include lunch, refreshments and a private tour of the Colesbourne collection.
Award-winning designer Chris Beardshaw, designer and writer Mary Keen, vegetable grower and writer Lia Leendertz and bulb expert Christine Skelmersdale are among those taking part in The Generous Gardener lecture days.
The talks, held in Ampney Crucis near Cirencester, cover topics ranging from growing flowers for cutting, good design and planting, and the gardens at Sissinghurst.
Two speakers, lunch and refreshments are included in the £90 cost of the lecture days, which run from 10.30am to 4pm; the first is on March 31.
• Colesbourne Park: http://www.colesbournegardens.org.uk/
• The Generous Gardener: http://thegenerousgardener.co.uk/