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it does not flit from flower to flower like a butterfly. But it flies readily if disturbed from its not-very-camouflaged position on a leaf, wall, fence, window, car, no-parking sign, bollard or brightly coloured plastic bin full of winter salt/grit mix

. The problem with bindweed is that it gets into flower borders, where its thick white roots mingle with those of perennials and shrubs, making it very, very hard to dig out. I've tried to remove bindweed, but even the tiniest piece of root left in the soil can

-trained fruit trees. Looking at a well cared for tree is like admiring the work of a skilled craftsman - with the advantage of knowing that someday soon it is not only going to flower but produce something edible. Not something that can be said about most crafty

Christmas is fast approaching, and perfume houses will soon be tempting us to buy fragrances for our nearest and dearest. No doubt they'll do a roaring trade, but to my mind natural perfume can't be beaten. Fragrant plants and flowers add another

Woodland floors carpeted with snowdrops do look beautiful, cool and calming, but their pure simplicity causes quite a stir in some quarters. A particular breed of person, the galanthophile, gets quite excited by this particular flower (a member

but are happy to graze quite close to cowpats. Cattle, unsurprisingly, are keen to avoid cowpats but are less discerning and will eat any grass.However, for many wild flower meadows cattle are not required - too much fertility. For example the meadow at Coton

every day. All they need is some extra warmth to encourage them to burst into flower.Until that finally happens, I’m putting some of the empty summer patio pots to good use by packing them with primulas.And what a choice there is. Of course

.I'm surprised, though, to see little sign of wildlife at any of these flower pots - just a lone honeybee and a couple of pigeons.It is only down by the river's edge that I can see what I might call real wildlife in a garden. A tiny concrete balcony

in the south-west. As well as feeding my young family out of our back garden, I squeeze in as many flowers as I can manage. This year I’m itching to sow the mouth-watering selection of flowers, veg, herbs and salads on offer through the Seed Club. The moment

, lettuce, rocket, mizuna, chives and other herbs.Strawberries are in flower, and good blossom on my apples, pear, peach and plum has now turned to promising little fruits. I think it's going to be a good year for fruit.Canes of raspberries, blackberries