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After the intense cold of winter, the bright and cheerful flowers of alpines and rock garden plants introduce much-needed colour into our gardens. There is a huge range to choose from and, being used to extreme conditions, they're extremely hardy

Whether you're barbecuing, roasting, casseroling or cooking poultry in a crock, herbs can greatly enhance the flavour. They can be chopped and mixed with salt and rubbed into or under the skin. Handfuls can also be put into the cavity of the bird. Alternatively, chop and add them...

Herbs make the perfect partners to vegetables, whether they're eaten raw, roasted, boiled, mashed or fried. Mint is delicious cooked or raw, with root vegetables, in salads or dressings and marinades. Chives, with their mild onion flavour, are very versatile and can be chopped an...

Brighten up your usual daffodil container display by adding a few low-growing, flowering plants. The dwarf size of celandines makes them perfect for containers and they look stunning against this blue-flowering corydalis. September - early NovemberFebruary - April20 minutesDaffod...

There are many plants in flower in February that can be used to create an instant spring pot display. Daffodils and primulas go together beautifully, and work well with the contrasting foliage of Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' and a brightly coloured pot. If you buy the plan...

The sweet-smelling irises should be in flower by late-winter if the weather is mild. Before then, you can enjoy the foliage combination of the needle-like iris, the filigree ivy and the crimped fern. If you plant up this container feature in autumn you can use iris bulbs; if you ...

The perfect symmetry of these two formal Christmas planters makes a rather grand frame for your front door. The box cones and lead planters might be a little costly, but you'll have them for life once you've made the initial investment. The display is perfect for a smart, city fr...

Feeling fruityI've hand-picked a few favourites that will certainly whet the appetite - they're all tried and tested for flavour and reliability.When it comes to fruit, I'm passionate about eating and growing as much as possible in its proper season. Gooseberry fool in June, summ...

Fish, cooked simply with herbs, is classic cuisine. The fine leaves of bronze fennel have a mild aniseed flavour and can be placed in the cavity of a fish prior to baking. The orange-scented thyme combines well with strong-flavoured fish like mackerel or herring, and is also good...

The bright, cheery colours of Spanish flag (Ipomoea lobata, formerly known as Mina lobata) and Canary creeper, Tropaeolum peregrinum, combine to make a stunning summer pot display.Canary creeper is an easy-to-grow relative of nasturtium. You might have to trim its fig-like leaves...