Keyser Soze

The daftest thing you've done in your garden

Fairygirl, yes we ate the croissants but not with the peas!

The daftest thing you've done in your garden

Whilst on a self catering holiday in France my Mam bought some "pasties" from the supermarket and served them up with peas. Soon found out they were chocolate croissants!

"desirable" plants that become invasive monsters

That lovely variagated grass, Gardener's Garters (Phalaris arundinacea)!

Has a lovely spreading habit rather like that invasive Couch grass (Elymus repens)!

If you must have it put it in a container but I find it will soon fill any container I put it in. 

Talkback: Plans for a garden

There is a multitude of stuff out there. Personally I would stay away from periwinkle as they can be quite invasive. Try looking at some websites where they have plants for sale and you can whittle down which ones you come across depending on the criteria of when you want it to flower, how tall and what colour etc.

Another favourite foliage plant of mine to go with ferns and hostas is heuchera.

Talkback: Garden birds in the snow

I never thought of porridge oats, must try it! We have been out every day giving them nuts and breadcrumbs in fat and they have been clearing it up pretty quickly. We make sure everything is in small pieces to stop the larger birds such as crows and magpies making off with it all!

Talkback: Help wildlife survive winter

We have had cat problems for years now. I wish that all owners could fit them with bells to at least give some of the birds a chance. Fledglings will always find it difficult but it would let the adult birds know if they are being stalked. Is it true they used to cull magpies? There seems to be an ever growing number of these predators from one year to the next.

Talkback: Plans for a garden

Liaqat,

Personally I would go for a structure of hostas, ferns and grasses with some summer interest in the form of perennial flowers or shade loving annuals such as busy lizzies.

Talkback: Plans for a garden

We moved into a new house a few years ago and discovered the fences all around painted a gaudy orangey colour! We purchased some twiggy fence panels to cover these and trained some chinese virginia creeper up them. They look great all year round. Good for somewhere for insects to hide and we always have an abundance of wrens and other small birds picking their way through the fencing. Highly recommended as a natural screen and wind filtering too.