All the rain and wonderful warm weather is creating the ideal breeding ground for aphids. Plants are sending up new shoots and flowers, thinking that spring has arrived quite early and sapsuckers are populating at the rate of rabbits. Aphids feed on new growth by piercing and sucking the sap, preferring the lovely new soft growth because these cells transport nutrients.

Being a dog lover, my garden and I have been through a few puppies over the years, and it can be quite a challenge to keep that sweet demeanor when you find half the garden dug up, chewed or both.

There has been a lot of discussion on the causes of declining populations of bees after the January 2016 European Food Safety Authority (Efsa) review on the ban of certain pesticides. This could pave the way for a EU ban on three neonicotinoid pesticides that are believed to be partially responsible for the decline of bee colonies.

If you ask any passionate gardener they will tell you the two best luxury items on top of the list would be a mature tree and/or garden ornamentation. Hell, we are talking luxury here – go for both!