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of colour and life; in the majority of cases this is to be welcomed. Hooray for the resurgence of tulips, whoopee for the return of the rose and yippee for the arrival of annuals.However, there are some plants which I am not looking forward to seeing again

, tomatoes, beans and peas. Ornamental plants, especially roses and delphiniums, are also affected. This abnormal growth has been attributed to a weedkiller, which is widely used by farmers on grassland to kill broad-leafed weeds, such as chickweeed, fat hen

't be a problem. Fantastic if you could grow roses so far north. Still, beautiful as the scenery was, I'd not swap it for our variable and often excessively wet climate, with all its rewards of tasty, tender veg we've been enjoying since our return!

things that they did not touch: a short list consisting of Taxus baccata (yew), Cornus alba (Dogwood), Euonymus europaeus (Spindle) and Buxus sempervirens (Box). Secondly things that they adored: Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese laurel), Roses, Hydrangea

mother, who got it from somebody else, etc. Such is the way with shared plants; they lose their smart Linnaean names along the way and become known as 'Granny's rose' or 'Auntie's violet'. If you know what it is, then I'd love to know.

... round shrubs, roses and flowers, along the base of the hedge, around fruit trees and bushes, and over the veg plot. Beans get a good, deep mulch of compost to help conserve soil moisture, too, but it's not just water retention that mulching is good for

My garden - like yours - is looking fantastic at the moment. Plants that were just poking from cold ground a couple of months ago are now enormous and luxuriant. Bees buzz, roses overflow and lawns are lush.Rather than just brag, I thought I

leather. Sadly, I don't have manicures or baby-soft palms that require protection, but I do need gloves that aren't easily pierced by rose thorns.The very best pair I've ever owned was given to me by my brother, who found them in a truckstop somewhere near

admiringly at roses and bob deferentially to paeonies. One of my favourite combinations is Geum 'Mrs J. Bradshaw' with Stipa tenuissima.As we reach the dog days the grasses step from the shadows and become stars. I could drone on for ages but I'll give you