Returned to Hyacinth after a difficult first attempt

My first attempt at Hyacinth failed — narcissus fly larvae tunnelling into the base of the bulb got hold of it and I didn't know what I was looking at until it was too late. I left it alone for a year before trying again.

The second attempt, with proper attention to adding grit to the planting hole in heavy clay soils, has been completely different. It's now thriving in a cut flower garden for fresh indoor arrangements and remarkable energy stored underground for a reliable annual performance is on full display. summer bulbs like gladiolus and allium extending the season this year was a genuine reward for starting again. If you failed first time, the plant isn't the problem — the conditions probably were.