Spring is here

Evidence of spring is now, thankfully, starting to show. I have actually been out in the garden, following its big pre-spring tidy up, and started to sort out the pots and arrange them for the next few months.

Everything is about three weeks late up in Cumbria and I dare say in most other parts of the UK as well. Just to help you into the Spring feeling, here is a pic of the lovely daffs at Brodie Castle, Morayshire, Scotland. Estates and gardens across the UK are now opening up for spring weekends to view daffodils, bluebells and snowdrops. When this happens you start to feel that the spring and summer is actually on its way, so let's hope that after the really bad winter we all get some good weather in the next few weeks.

If you are up in Scotland there are several National Trust for Scotland properties opening for their show of daffodils and spring flowers including Brodie, Threave Garden, Dumfries and Galloway and Greenbank Garden in Glasgow. Check out their website for information on opening times and dates: www.nts.org.uk

A poll of PURE digital radio users has shown that birdsong is the most popular alarm tone after the traditional beep. Numbers of people choosing birdsong to wake up to were more than double those of any of the other 365 sounds you could choose. Second to birdsong were church bells.

An RSPB spokesperson commented that songs from familiar birds in your garden are extremely relaxing and a gentle cheerful sound is a good start to the day.

Check out the website for book reviews of the lates companion book for Chelsea and all your gardening news - www.recklessgardener.com

It will soon be flower show season so keep logging on to find out what is going on. If you have any comments about your own garden log onto our forum and become a member of our members section.

We have quite a few book reviews coming up om the next few weeks and if you haven't seen them yet, do log onto the Three Men Went .... videos which are a lot of fun.