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suffered from moisture and mould during the winter or their newly-founded embryo nests have fallen foul of bad weather at the key stage of development in April and May.There are definitely more wasps about this year so it was no surprise when an allotment

in March. Not this time though! I'm determined to forge ahead this winter and have planned a couple of projects to get my teeth into, including building another compost heap and painting the shed. Not only have I convinced myself that these projects

stunner has really put on a fantastic prima donna show. I hope it realises the pleasure it brought as it glowed warmly in the freezing winter weather. A big thank you, from all of us.I'll be out there regularly watching to see just when this little

to share it, but usually I'm alone, savouring every second.But that's where my camera comes in. Now it's a moment I can share.I admire the hardiness of those garden plants that don't shut up shop for winter but still put on a show. Every garden needs them

for clay soils and spring for sandy ones. However, I usually add compost to my clay beds now. It always bothers me that all the lovely nutrients in the compost are leached away by winter rains so I go against convention and leave composting until now.

as a native hedging plant, but surely its time more were grown as ornamentals (with a sideline in winter liqueur production, of course). The only problem is that they self-seed and tend to spread themselves rather rapidly, but if they do grow too much

, lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla), is starting to produce new leaves. In previous years I've known the plant to start sprouting new foliage as late as mid-May, by which time one wonders if the plant died in the winter.Now is the ideal time to cut lemon

overwintered wild rocket to supplement the odd lacklustre shop-bought lettuce (I know I shouldn't but I am getting bored of winter crops now) and it's really livened things up a treat.I'm also using my salad stuff in my sandwiches for work too - it really must

I know I'm in danger of becoming a bit of a bore, raving on about my winter vegetables - but they have been truly marvellous. So it felt sad to harvest my final leeks this week. What a fine specimen I had left until last - tall, straight and pale

of sorts).As for cabbages, I've got pointed ones, round ones, red ones and savoy types, not to mention a few that Ron-next-door has given me. I think these should see me through the winter ahead. As long as I can keep them safe from the attentions