Shipton Bulbs dispatch bare root plants in spring and autumn. Bulbs go out in autumn with a selection 'in the green' in spring. This time round I ordered 5 of: Greater Stitchwort, Purple Loosestrife, Dames Violet, Solomon's Seal and a couple of Stinking Iris. All very hardy, not long out of the ground and ready to go back in.

 Sometimes called Lords-and-Ladies or Cuckoo Pint our native Arum maculatum is actually a bulbous plant. Shipton sell it in the autumn but last week I had to clear quite a few from a border we are rejuvenating at the music school. Accordingly I forked them out 'in the green' so to speak and replanted them in my garden.

 I think the foliage will wilt and die back with that kind of treatment but as long as the bulb survives they may recover next year.