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Flower Show. They have been grown without extra heat and no extra light in a greenhouse where the temperature does not drop below 4°C at night. This temperature protects from frost but does not force growth. Another good tip for those that want to bring

that in my lifetime so many of our native wildflowers and herbs have become endangered. They are now protected; it is illegal to pick or dig up any wild plant. However, it is heartening that with the increase in more sympathetic farming practices

the dreaded pests and diseases can look good. Cuckoo spit usually appears from about June onwards and inside the fascinating glob of 'spit' are immature (or nymph) frog hoppers, most commonly Philaenus spumarius. They sit in the wonderfully protected frothy

, which has been bashed by the recent gales and torrential rain. This helps protect the crown and shape of the plants, so hopefully they'll be ready for next year. I'm worried the rough weather will affect my flower stock for the forthcoming Hampton Court

is there for a gardener than the reward of having wildlife use the habitat created for them? Two pairs of blackbirds regularly dart about my lawn feeding, chasing and protecting their territory. I'm not sure where their boundaries lie or whether they're happy

.Next is what looks like a tiny animated scrubbing brush; it's the larva of a beetle, Ctesias serra. Related to carpet beetles, it scavenges on bits of insects left by spiders that make their messy webs under loose bark on old trees. Its long bristles protect

and barbecues. It's supposed to be getting better in September; I'm quietly hopeful but not making any plans just yet.But back to my lovely, though largely untouched, lettuces. I started them all off in cells (this method makes it so much easier to protect them

of the midday sun. And that's the good thing about growing trees in pots: they can be moved around through the year as weather conditions change. They can be moved to a sheltered spot for winter to protect their roots from cold, but brought back on display

On the weekend of 25/26 October, the RSPB held a Feed the Birds Day, with various events up and down the country. It doesn't yet seem cold enough to worry about putting up seed feeders or fat cakes, but then we're probably more protected from

the years this doesn't appear to have done it any damage. This seems strange as my RHS A-Z of Garden Plants tells me that this palm needs greenhouse protection and a minimum temperature of 10-16°C (50-60°F).It has certainly been colder than that in the past