The sparrows were seen the other day pecking at the buds on my plum tree, the little...darlings.

I've done some pruning, but I have yet got to dig. I had to leave a double row of spuds in last year as they got slugged and wormed to death. The early variety weren't touched, and in the same bit of garden too. So I have got the pleasure of removing all those and the soil is he-a-vee! Then there's all the wild strawberries that have gone wild. And the greater celandine which seemed like a good idea at the time, but now seeds all over the carden. That and Herb Robert and Herb Benedict too. So do the evening primroses and the smallage (wild celery), but I don't mind that so much.

By the way, 2 years ago I put a failing Aspidistra down on the sheltered patio in its pot for the summer, and forgot it. Despite frosts and a little bit of snow, it's still very much with us! I know they call them the cast-iron plant, but that's because they'll stand lack of watering!

Andrea

Andrea