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, or a late opening of goatsbeard flowers either. It was the noticeable absence of 747s turning on their final approach into Heathrow. Only a serious change in the wind can do this. An hour later this new wind brought a wonderful gift - the swifts

Our first barbecue of the season was Sunday 3 May, so much pottering about in the garden sunshine. It's all happening out there now. Last week there were 13 newts in the pond, we couldn't move for holly blues and then the swifts were back. It

Following my find of a dead swift in the flower bed, there have been a lot of blog comments on cats, and how welcome or unwelcome they are in the garden. So I just had to share the following, because I found it so comical. It is taken from a

When the swifts first returned on May 2nd there were only three or four of them. Last year we had a huge gang of about 15, wheeling in the sky and screaming down the street at top speed, just above the lamp-posts. I always take these wonderfully

Joe Swift demonstrates how to sow salad seedsAdvice on dealing with gluts of edible cropsJoe Swift's video guide to sowing tomato seedsBrowse a selection of vegetable plantsChoose lettuce varieties

Join Joe Swift as he plants a clematis at the base of a viburnum in the Berryfields garden, and offers planting and mulching tips.May-JuneMore advice on growing climbing plantsPotting on sweet peas, Sarah RavenConstructing a rustic trellisMaking a

Joe Swift demonstrates how to prune and take hardwood cuttings from dogwoods.springCreative suggestions for dogwoodCreate a dogwood container displayCreate a winter container displayMake a christmas wreathBrowse dogwood varietiesAdd autumn colour

Follow Joe Swift's video guide to planting, training and pruning passion flowers.summerMore about growing climbing plantsPlanting a clematis, with advice from Sarah RavenCreating a rustic trellisUsing plant supports

Follow Joe Swift's step-by-step video demonstration to making your own rustic plant supports for climbers, from bamboo canes.all year roundMore on plant supportsCreating a metal obeliskConstructing a hazel trellisMaking a spiral plant support

Watch Joe Swift's practical video demonstration on choosing marginal plants for a garden pond. Plant choices include Cyperus involucratus, Equisetum hyemale and arum lily.summerMore water gardening projectsGrowing marginal plants in a container