p.s. the pussy willow in the street is budding, the local (well fed) birds are doing their springtime romancing and Madame Stork is back on her nest in the local park. I love storks!

Almost time to start cleaning up and getting the spring flowers in at the rooftop terrace. Thing I'll just pop a clematis in a pot and let it go wild this year. They're not poisonous are they?

Just spotted the first finch - winter is coming. Annually it's a lady finch who arrives about a week ahead of her flock. Will get the jackdaw proof feeder up this week!

Have not been neglecting home garden! We had to cut the honeysuckle back by about 50%. And I have created a foraging heaven of log stumps in front. Come spring the 50 shades of lavender sweat pea will be put out on the rooftop terrace.

Just saw the 1st snowdrops pushing through an otherwise colourless embankment! Think there might be some buds on the pussy willow as well. Let me share something I saw on Monday. Racing high-speed through Northern France I thought it looked like a crow's

Need to replace tree trunks next year! The pieces of tree I use for levels have finally rejoined the earth. Would prefer some nice wide slices but beggars can't be choosy!

why o why does my angelica never want to flower? any tips for the balcony through the winter? Winter is coming...the first finch arrived at the bird feeder today. The rest will arrive in about a week. Mid-november could mean we can expect a normal winter.

Heather and winter pansies! A bit of autumn sunshine for the balcony. Two big deep red mums, purple heather and multi-coloured pansies. Must get more. Am not putting in bulbs this year. There are a profusion of bulbs down there (birds dug them up)...

Flowers bye bye...you know it's been a crap summer when you're out looking at mums in August. But those poor bees need something to eat and this rain and cold means that all those lovely flowers are gone. Have also had to cull the broom - it just died....

The sweet pea on the balcony is flowering ! Dark purple, lovely smell especially mixed with the honeysuckle. The snapdragons bloomed out but thanks to prudent deadheading they're coming back! Once the sun comes back the bees will have something to eat.

The balcony was looking way too bare so I broke down and got some annuals. Pink snapdragons and purple & white petunias make it cheery.