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the discomfort).But if I'm still cold beneath so many layers, I shudder to think how the poor birds must be faring. Their tiny, almost flesh-free legs must be frozen. I do what I can for them, and my bird table is currently laden with large quantities of crushed

Garden tits and fat balls. No, I'm not about to start writing top shelf, plain brown envelope stuff, just about birds and bird feeders. I had the most horrible experience a couple of days ago, with a great tit and a fat ball. It had me in tears, so

food? Peanuts are obviously highly nutritious, as are the various seeds we put out for them, but what about bread and pasta? They're hardly what wild birds in my Hampshire garden would normally find to eat. Are we subjecting our beautiful birds

and particularly lovely feathered critters we try to provide a habitat for. I've heard the argument that it's not that sparrowhawk numbers are on the increase, but that they're simply following their food, so as the smaller birds become more numerous in gardens

Sunflowers are often described as a great starter seed, perfect for kids - quick, reliable and HUGE results. Maybe that proves I've never really become a fully fledged grown up. I adore them, and despite the fact both my kids love gardening

where there is no risk of flooding, the extent of the damage to my house and garden is incredible. My current pride and joy (as it is every March) is the display of daffodils on the drive leading up to my house. The rain and wind have flattened my daffs

Madeiran climate!After 10 days in the company of more than 100 keen gardeners, I feel refreshed and invigorated. The calabrese I planted the day I left has doubled in size, and the last-minute tomatoes that I planted also seem sturdy and unstoppable. So

, not exactly a job I lust after!) I am starting to think there could be a market for entire garden shelters which allow natural light through, permit adequate air circulation and wind movement, access to birds and other wildlife... but keep out the rain

fewer ladybirds in my garden this year. I expect they’re missing the aphids, too.Perhaps the birds are obligingly collecting the aphids up for their young, or they've all been parasitised by some wonder wasp. Who knows, maybe it was the hard winter after

Yesterday at a Gardeners' Question Time recording it was amazing to hear that Eric's Cumbrian plot had only had 5cm of snow. Not so here in Hampshire. The snow is 45-60cm deep and the icicles more than 1m long!What have I been up to during the snowy