The blossoms are bursting on the crab apple tree and in the azalea and rhododendron border — a sure sign that Spring has truly arrived. But, how we can overlook heavy showers of hailstones over the past two days and a ground frost last night? Last night was the coldest May night in the UK since 1996 with temperatures of -6C in parts of the Highlands.

The old saying, "Ne'er cast a cloot till May is ott", is still good advice for a gardener to follow! I think I'll leave the bedding plants under cover in the greenhouse for another week or two.