Tara's March Letter

March is the month I most look forward to, when spring truly arrives in all her glory. The landscape bursts into bud, and fresh young leaves slowly appear on the bare branches of winter.

Daffodils, paperwhites and a whole melody of colourful bulbs appear everywhere: on lawns, in pots and borders and across the countryside. They are the joys of springtime.

Paperwhites and spring bulbs

Paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus) are my favourite, and their scent is intoxicating. The first bunch of the year was picked this week, and as I write, their pure perfection and fragrance fill the room.

Spring is a time of renewal, nature's rebirth. Capture the moment and bring nature indoors by potting up spring bulbs.

Use containers you already have to arrange the bulbs beautifully, and be creative. A few twigs around the edge of the pot support the stems as they flower and add a little drama.

Let the different seasons create different moods within your home, so that you and your home are in tune with nature.

At the end of March the days grow longer as the clocks go forward into summertime, and that extra hour lifts everyone's spirits. It is too soon to put the winter coats away, and the woollens stay firmly in the wardrobe, but this transitional period has its own charm, as on most days you can venture out without being so wrapped up.

A spring refresh for the home

Spring is traditionally the time to clean the home from top to bottom, refresh it and perhaps reimagine a room or two. Change is a good thing, and transforming our surroundings now and then does us good.

Come spring, put away the thicker, richer winter throws and cushions and replace them with the textures of the new season: soft, creamy pastel throws and linen cushions that echo its softness. Often a few small changes are all a room needs to come alive.

To finish the spring look, add a big vase of daffodils alongside a pot of spring bulbs to banish the winter blues. A few vases of the sweetest-smelling spring flowers dotted around the home will change its spirit instantly.

Something to watch

'Home', a series on Apple TV, is well worth watching. If you appreciate architecture, design, interiors and sustainable living, it will appeal: beautifully filmed and exceptional, and highly recommended.