We rarely see many honey bees here before June as we are 200 metres above sea level. Lots of bumble bees (about 20-30 at a time) and smaller insects which act as pollinators. As we have fields on 2 sides, and a marsh about 300 metres away, always lots of insects. Never had pollination problems even ...

Same here. And the rasps look as though the early ones will be great.

Glad it' s sorted.
Mine is a Gin & Tonic (electronic)

Frost forecast for Staffs Moorlands Monday and Tuesday nights. Cold here, overcast, northerly wind.

I blame global warming. Not heard much from them recently have we?

Some alternative weather forecaster: Piers Corbyn..brother of MP -- forecasts hot summer.

http://www.weatheraction.com/pages/pv.a ... t1&fsize=0

Re: Atco recoil starter cord Hi Madasafish Tried to open your photo but cannot. Is yours like this? How is it dismantled? By removing the cotter pin and how are the springs re-tensioned? Remove the cotter pin. Lift it up carefully. Remove the spring - it WILL unwind and do not try to stop it . It i...

Same design as my Balmoral. Remove plastic cover containing cord and spring on side of engine. Note carefully direction cord wound round pully and places of all springs and various stops. (phots). Dismantle. Replace cord..

5C in greenhouse overnight... No frost so warmer than 3 nights this week. Thermals again due to the wind..

We had a harsh winter -17C two nights. My asparagus is 2 weeks late and half it has not shown. I'll worry in end May...

At a time when bee populations are under pressure due to the verroa mite killing them, dandelions form a great source of pollen and nectar early in the year. Bees feed the pollen to the bee pupae and of course convert the nectar to honey. We have lots of dandelions every year in the fields and verge...

When all risk of frost is past.

In our case mid May

Being mean, I sometimes buy reduced bushes- reduced because they have been neglected and are half dead.

The eating gooseberry I bought (Focus?) just survived year 1, grew lots of wood year 2 and now in years 3 looks like it is going to have lots of fruit.

Our garden soil is neutral but very heavy : clay about 1 metre down. We planted ours in a hole with mixed compost and garden soil and added iron sulphate and every year I water them in spring with an Ericacous feed from Miracle Gro. Apart from 1 dead plant in year 1, we have had no casualties in 4 y...

As most of the rubbish blown into our yard consists of ciggie packets, all smokers should be forced to clear up.

And crisp eaters...

Greenhouse full of tomatoes (under a mini greenhouse). Paraffin heater at night and on cold days (2C today). Plus flowers, peppers, three giant Russian strawberries in flower, a fig , 5 lavender plants... and a house window with more. Garden dug, beds mulched, weeded and all prepared for Spring in d...