More than one thousand chilled, cut tulips from Bloms Bulbs will be brought in for special displays and arrangements at Chenies Manor for the traditional Tulip Day on bank holiday Monday.

The event will offer visitors a preview of the varieties going on show at Chelsea later this month.

The cut flowers are the same varieties, but the show at Chenies has an added attraction.

"The difference is that at Chelsea each variety is on its own, whereas at Chenies, Mrs MacLeod Matthews will mix them and arrange them for colour effect to suit the manor," said Chris Blom, whose nurseries used to be based at Leavesden.

Chenies Manor has been the showcase for Bloms' tulips for 19 years. Each year, owner and headgardener, Mrs Elizabeth MacLeod Matthews plants about 6,000 bulbs to suit the gardens and show the effect of individual varieties.