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, mysticism, strange tools and exotic outfits are purely optional. Just remember you're dealing with miniature trees not house plants; like trees they need cold winters, air, water and sunshine to thrive.For more information you could try the Federation

into the winter. In the final stage of its life journey the seed-pod turns crispy brown, and crumbles away depositing thousands of seeds on the surrounding ground. It dies as elegantly as a poet in a garret. If you want them in your garden then scrounge some seed

like plums: never in the winter or during wet weather - for fear of silverleaf. Find them a sheltered place as they blossom quite early, so are a bit vulnerable to frosts. However, do not be scared off as there are lots of cultivars (some even from

not proceeded exactly as I envisaged. Gardening doesn't always work like that (as you all know).The monarda disappeared without trace over the winter, which I thought very odd as it is a tough old thing and its relations are quite happily spreading itself around

candidates - lots of little bulbs cropping up all over the place, like snowdrops, crocus and Iris reticulata - and wonderfully scented Hamamelis mollis, Sarcococca and Daphne bholua.The winter stems were also looking particularly fine - in particular

.Finally, by the end of November the work is done and the trees settle back into a period of winter hibernation.Or do they? No, they do not because, come January and February, the trees start shedding again. Not leaves this time but something far less useful: seeds. Do

the crown of the plant over winter. This is easily done by folding the dying leaves over the crown. In cold areas a bit of straw and fleece can be added for extra protection.At least if you insist on camping under a Gunnera in your garden, rather than

. But I love pumpkin curry, pumpkin soup or even just mashed pumpkin with bacon.We grow three varieties. The first is a big orange number called ‘Vif d’Etampes’. It keeps well into the winter, but once cut we have to eat it for at least a week. The second

Although there is not a huge amount of ‘planty stuff’ to be done at this time of year, it doesn’t mean you should be sitting in a comfy chair watching afternoon television.Late winter is your last chance to sort out any hard landscaping jobs

to this the fact that the cider was often more potable than the water and if you freeze cider (easy enough in the snowy winters of the Midwest) then you end up with 60% proof applejack (or apple brandy).Since his death in about 1845 the legend of Johnny Appleseed