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by the tendency of these little birds to strip yellow flowers, such as crocus, but so what? And don't forget that the adults not only eat weed seeds, but they also feed their young with insects and their larvae. All-in-all, sparrows are a delight and a help

-fruiting winter cherry, a mini skimmia and some beautiful silver-leafed cinneraria. A trip to the garden centre added to the loot with winter flowering pansies, some small variegated ivies and a job lot of spring bulbs.I don’t really like winter cherries, worse

the sarcococca have been damaged. But the sarcococca has only flowered on the side that wasn't hit - which is fair enough!Just about all the plants grown in containers have also perked up, though I suspect there may yet be a few casualties. The only real loss I

penstemon, a tiarella and a catmint, Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low'. Sadly, the plant label is virtually all I have left of my once stunning purple-flowered plant. It met its doom on the front steps, still in its nursery bag, within an hour of arriving home

'Freda' - a pretty plant with purple-tinted leaves and pink flowers. The arbour is gorgeous to look at, but becomes a more favourite haunt as it provides me with a leafy retreat, laden with the best of summer perfume.Add to this some night-scented stock

've got to admit that the French have it too.We saw so many small to medium plots of immaculately maintained vegetables, often in full view of the road, and looking lovely. And then the most extraordinarily bright and yet beautiful flower displays in tiny

.It took me a while to find the best spot for them.  Heavy clay isn't really ideal, but I've been blessed with wonderful allium displays that return year after year.Their dense pom-pom flower heads, composed of numerous purple 'stars', provide an easily

of demonstrations and activities going on. Bunny Guinness demonstrated her 'limbering-up-for-gardening' exercises; a poor, unfortunate soul attempted to convert a very stubborn Eric Robson to the art of flower arranging; Anne Swithinbank ran her house plant clinic

Everything, it seems, has gone green. I’m not just talking about the gorgeous shoots and leaves that are beginning to unfurl. No, I refer to the green film of algae coating steps, paths, stepping stones, flower pots, planters, benches, tables

to look a little perkier  - but it didn’t put on any new growth. Eventually, with a little TLC, and extra watering, my cherished magnolia did eventually grow up and outwards. Eventually, every spring it bore (and still bears) masses of beautiful flowers