I used to be a seed guardian up to a couple of years ago when I had to give up the allotment. I used to guard a dwarf french bean called 'Black Valentine'.

It's great fun to do - very worthwhile. It doesn't need guarding any more so I guess my efforts must have made a bit of difference.

How easy is it to grow magnolia seeds? I have been given a couple of pods from a large magnolia tree (pink flowers) and would like to have a go. Are there any special tips on how to get them going?

Advice much appreciated.

A friend of mine recently gave me an excellent home-made shopping bag. Really easy to make - the idea being to cut down on the number of potentially hazardous plastic bags in the world.

For more info on how to make this bag - and perhaps make one for a friend too, go to http://www.morsbags.com/morsbagsblurb.doc

Thank you all - I'll leave it where it is, seeing as it's supposed to thwart the whitefly. It's very pretty.

That sparrow must have flown a long way if the seeds originate in Peru No wonder if was having a rest in the greenhouse.

http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/ ... new011.jpg

Anybody know what this is please? It's growing in my greenhouse alongside the tomatoes. I think it's very pretty but I certainly didn't plant it and blame an exploring sparrow!

I bought some poultry spice years ago too and I used to give them a sprinkle on their pellets about twice a week during the winter and also when they are moulting. Can't say I noticed much difference either. HOWEVER, I now use Battles poultry drink, added to their water once a week or so, and when I...

There are also several other things you can use. A squirt of cat Frontline in the vent area will do the trick - or Ivermectin will work also. 2 drops on the back of the neck for small fowl and 4 drops for large fowl. An easy method too is to go to the chemist and get a bottle of Benzyl Benzoate and ...

I've noticed that some of my chard leaves have black areas on them - is this some sort of blight or mildew, only I thought mildew was white?? These are young plants, seed sown in late spring and, up until last week, they were looking very healthy. Some are growing in large pots and some I've planted...

Many thanks for your replies - we didn't realise it was poisonous so are grateful for your info.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/ ... yplant.jpg

Does anyone know what this pretty climbing plant is? My daughter spotted it rambling through a shrub, in Scotland. It has green berries on it which are now turning red.

I had a collie/lab cross who started to have seizures at 2 years old - they lasted just a few minutes and then he came round, looking a bit dazed but ok. He was taken to the vets but they said he was coping fine and didn't need any treatment. He lived to the ripe old age of l9. He was quite a hypera...

If the vet has checked her out and treated her with Tylan (a previous brush with mycoplasma may have infected her joints) then I expect both you and the vet will have checked for bumblefoot as well. It does seem a shame - but she may just have injured herself jumping off a perch or turning awkwardly...

Found this delightful sketch of hedgehog poo - http://www.wildaboutleicester.co.uk/usr ... ehog13.jpg

I sounds like he has a respiratory infection, which could be mycoplasma - this will need a couple of injections of Tylan, or Baytril powder, from the vet pretty quickly. His manky feathers may be due to his wiping his nose on his neck. You may have to treat the whole flock, if it is mycoplasma, as i...

Well, it depends on the size of your garden. I have a small garden and can only have space for a fixed run - so I have it mostly paved with slabs, but with a square left free so that they can make a dustbath. I cover the slabs with straw (some folk use woodchip) so that the hens can scratch about fo...