BULBS

Pot spring bulbs such as dwarf narcissi, hyacinths, Iris reticulata and crocuses at fortnightly intervals for a staggered display in both the house and the garden. (It is amazing how cheap these bulbs are getting I saw a box of 500 dwarf daffs for about €6 the other day). Use ordinary potting compost with some coarse sand or grit mixed in.


Plant nerine bulbs and divide old mounded clumps after flowering. The best place for the heat and sun they need to flower is at the foot of a south-facing wall. Plant the bulbs with the nose just showing above the soil and give protection with a mulch if it gets really cold.

CONKERS

As I don't have a picture of any conkers, how about one of Swan Park in Buncrana?

NUTS

A council in England is paying contractors €150 euro per tree to remove conkers. Officials fear locals' windows will be broken as children throw objects into the trees to loosen the chestnuts. The contractors remove the conkers from the trees and leave them on the ground so children can still play with them. Peter Whish, the council's tree officer, said: "We're basically saving the council some money. One resident regularly has her windows broken in her conservatory by people throwing things into the tree. "There was a good conker crop so she gave us a call early and we were able to respond." However, World Conker Championships organiser John Hadman said the council were ruining the conkers by not allowing them to fall naturally. He said: "If a conker hasn't fallen to the ground naturally then it isn't ready to play”.

ALPINE TROUGHS

Winter is closing in. Take a few minutes to make sure your alpine plants are not covered with we leaves. Move any small alpine troughs (mind your backs!!) to a covered porch or lean-to to protect them from the rain (if you do not have a suitably ventilated and unheated greenhouse). Alternatively, shelter the troughs with transparent acrylic sheets suspended above them.

Horticultural.