Home»SPRING FLOWERS»WALKERS DAFFODILS;PHOTOGRAPHER CLIVE NICHOLS

The Dutch excel at bulb growing, but here in Lincolnshire's aptly named district of South Holland the spring fields are knee deep in rich and buttery daffodils. This is Johnny Walkers territory. Passionate about narcissi he is known in the trade as ' the man with the Midas touch'. His specialist nursery exhibits are regularly awarded gold medals( 19 consecutive gold's at Chelsea Flower Show 1995-2014 despite its mid May show date(. He also provided daffodils( representing Wales) for the Queens Diamond Jubilee Royal Barge in June 2012. Johnny, whose parents were both Dutch settlers, grows over 400 narcissi varieties, seeking out the worlds best new introduction for his specialist mail order bulb company. This is now a division of bulb giant Taylors, where Johnnys lifetimes experience of providing technical and quality control advice to the industry is still harnessed. He continues to oversee top notch quality, be it a small handful of heritage gems like N 'Irene Copeland' or fields full of pristine bulbs destined for the British cut-flower markets and garden centres, including' pink', rain bowed and fragrant specimens . He is honorary vice president of the Daffodil Society, recognising his massive contribution to the quality and promotion of narcissi.