Hello and I wish you all a very happy new year. This month gardening is the last thing we think of especially when the weather has been so wet but their are some jobs we need to do especially if you have roses. Prune roses by cutting each stem to the lowest bud on the stem removing all dead wood and shortening the leader shoots about a third. You can also prune and shape any bare trees.

Fragrant winter flowers are available to buy and can be planted now. However I prefer to put mine in pots. One of the best for heavenly scent is Daphne odora.

One of the first spring flowers to bloom, Mahonia, is another favourite and will give of its scent for some weeks.  My weekend job is to clean out the summer house in which I can place potted shrubs which need protection if the weather turns very cold. You could also use a shed to protect your tender shrubs and plants.

Why not take some root cuttings of herbaceous plants. Chop up the roots and place in a pot with some new compost. By late spring you should have some plants to put straight in the border. Hostas can be divided and potted on and if you want early plants keep them in greenhouse or shed.

Recently in December Daphne and I took a cruise around the carribean and my love of tropical plants overwhemed me when I was able to pick bananas, pick up the odd coconut from the roadside and with some help from the locals I was soon refreshed with fresh coconu. All this was possible when a local taxi took 4 of us into  the rain forest. I am now planning to create a jungle in our Sefton Lane garden. The new theme for open garden  day all depends of course on a warm spring . Norman.