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- not the Orkneys. Many of the pots were only a year or two old. They’ve crumbled and shattered and are now only useful for using as crocks in the bottom of yet more pots!We’re all meant to be making more environmentally friendly choices and buying products

perfume. It's sharp, lemony and ever-so-slightly sweet - I love it.This year there seems to be a lot of grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) lurking about on cyclamen plants. Each time I make my purchases, I spend a good few minutes checking around the base

, and they’re showing signs of downy mildew infection, please help FERA and send samples in to: Dr Phil Jennings, The Food and Environment Research Agency, Plant Protection Programme, Sand Hutton, York. YO41 1LZ.To make sure that the samples are in good

in netting, I confess it was me.If I hadn't covered the berries, by the time my urge to start decorating the house, making Yule logs and constructing a Christmas wreath kicks in, there won't be a berry in sight. I've left the vast majority for the birds, just

. Wind can scorch leaves as well as sun (and we’ve certainly had plenty of wind in Hampshire). Heavy rain and hail will also damage plants, peppering leaves and flowers with tiny shot marks.To make matters worse, water droplets on foliage can magnify

and trying to make the main pathways a little safer. Special cleaners are available, but I'm worried they might leach in to nearby soil and cause yet more damage to the soil micro-organisms.A little bit of salt can help too, but only in areas away from plants

their absolute best.When we moved into our house we planted several beautiful liquidambar trees. More than twelve years later, some are virtually stately. Liquidambar 'Lane Roberts' is the one to choose for the deepest red-purple foliage. We bought one, plus a

While the large flower shows are pretty mind-blowing, it's the local flower shows that get me excited about growing plants and vegetables. Many towns and villages have horticultural societies or gardening clubs, which hold at least one flower show a

A perfume-filled balmy evening in the garden is heaven on earth. I've always felt that perfumed plants provided an added bonus - scent plus beauty - as who can help but feel a wash of pleasure when experiencing all that a rose-clad arbour has

I watered, it rained within 24 hours.The downpours we've had in Hampshire over the last few days have made a serious difference to the plants. The veg plots are suddenly flourishing and some of my miserable-looking lettuce seedlings have finally