Autumn Bucket Step by Step

For sheer ‘wow’ factor in an autumn display, it’s hard to better Colchicum, the autumn crocus. Clusters of gleaming, silvered pink or white flowers emerge from summer dormancy ahead of their leaves, hence the common name ‘Naked Ladies’. Few bulbs are as irrepressible — autumn crocuses flower regardless of whether they are planted or not, so can be bought late in the summer, provided they are immediately put into deep, moisture-retentive soil in a sunny spot.