Beware of winter weather in spring!

This time last year, I remember we were hit with some particularly severe frosts – the apple and plum blossom took a fearful battering while I was dragging my large potted camellia indoors each evening to protect its buds. And it looks as though we may be set for more of the same this year!

It’s so easy to be lulled into a false sense of security around this time, especially when the days can be so nice and sunny. But it can be a fool’s spring, as our wonderful columnist Terry Walton calls it, and we have to be careful, especially with our delicate seedlings. If the forecasts are correct some parts of the UK could have snow this week!

Still, it will be short-lived and before we know it our gardens will be in full bloom. I trust you all had a good, productive bank holiday and got lots done – if I know GN readers, there were plenty of garden centre visits!

In this issue we’re looking ahead to summer with ways in which you can create a ‘holiday garden’ at home: whether it’s the Mediterranean look, a French-style classic potager or your own jungle garden, we’ve got lots of tips on page 18.

Meanwhile our columnist Naomi Slade has written a fabulous book on lilacs and we’ve an extract from it on page 24, which also details some of her favourite varieties. You can also find her Notes From A Small Garden on page 41, where she’s giving a few struggling plants some TLC.

We’ve got some great advice in our jobs pages, starting on page

37 – there’s a lot to get on with right now! Have a great gardening week.