This afternoon we had the highest temperature so far this year — 21°. It's been a welcome change after rain earlier in the week. Now it's 'all go' in the garden. getting down to the pruning, trimming and weeding that must be done within the next few weeks.

We've ordered some new David Austin roses to replace the old, black-spotted ones above the patio, and I couldn't resist ordering a few more Sarah Raven jewel-coloured chrysanthemums. I've managed to save my dahlias over the winter and have divided them and planted them out in pots by the coldframe. We'll have to wait and see if they blossom as profusely as they did last summer.