I have a yew with tulips, daffs & irises growing around them just fine. I don't understand why yours' have not. Try digging up a couple bulbs to examine what's wrong.

certainly mine around the yew have grown well in past years. The yew has died sadly but all the other plants are up and happy. I wonder if that area has been too dry for the tulips.

Thanks for those ideas....it certainly is dryer on that side but not badly so, but maybe....also I shall get out there tomorrow and dig a couple up to see what’s happening. I’ll post the results :)

If that is the north side of the Yew, the shade will greatly slow the emergence of the shoots.

Ok, I dug around and this is the result.....I think it looks like they’ve been eaten and the rotted as well...strange it stopped halfway across the bed!