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then succumb to the dreaded brown rot. (The signs of brown rot are raised beige spots, usually in neat concentric rings and a speedy, brown rotting of the flesh.)This year the birds and the wasps have eaten everything in sight. The peaches ('Avalon') cropped

is disappointing. Their flavour is poor due, I presume, to lack of sun (which they need to build up sugar content). They are also very watery. Interestingly, there has been almost no wasp damage on the fruit, proving that wasps are as fussy about their plums as I

to the fact that the local wasps are making their nests out of our new front door and cling to it like limpets every time it is opened or closed, but this was different. The whole family ended up under the table to see exactly what was going on

fewer ladybirds in my garden this year. I expect they’re missing the aphids, too.Perhaps the birds are obligingly collecting the aphids up for their young, or they've all been parasitised by some wonder wasp. Who knows, maybe it was the hard winter after

the kids’ trampoline. It’s amazing how much difference the shade makes; you can feel the drop in temperature beneath the net, and the soil is noticeably damper.Sitting in the sunshine, I’m watching the confused wasps buzzing around a bowl of strawberries, a

windfalls to collect, so we can make some more juice.I’ll save a few apples for the birds - I’m happy to feed them, but I begrudge the wasps, which hollowed out far too many fruits in this year’s crop.