Did my weekly stint in the garden today - everything seems to be growing like there's no tomorrow!

At last! The trees all seem to have sprouted leaves in the last week. Its all so late though.

I found an Azealea Japonica Blaauw's pink today. its a stunning shade of salmon and in full bloom. I now have it in a pot on the patio. http://www.portkellsnurseries.com/plantdb.php?id=1016

Oh Dear Margaret. They are from the genus Rhododendron. I read that they withstand temperatures as low as -29 so the winter can't be to blame. They need acid soil and must be in part shade as the sunlight damages them some how. They absorb water through the leaves as well as the roots so water them all over in the morning so the leafage dries and doesn't stay soggy. The soil should be of the sort that drains well so the roots don't rot. Is there any chance you can dig the one up that is in full sun and replant it or pot it instead? http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/azalea-plants-00400000065914/

Hi Margaret, the Japonica azalea thing needs acid soil. This is why yours is looking sorry if its in alkaline soil for the Hydrangea. I don't know much about plants at all and everything so far is by searching on the internet. Have a look at that link.

I'm itching to get the baskets and pots planted but it really is still too cold. Hopefully in the next 2 or so weeks, I can do them. Anyway, I have a query about Koi if any one knows anything about them. I have searched the internet but just wonder if a Koi expert may read this and be able to clarify this odd situation for me. Yesterday I went to feed the pond fish. They all came up for food but one 14'' or 3-4lb Koi which is a lady i believe, seemed unable to complete her ascent to the surface. She rolled backwards in a slow motion back flip , tried again and did the same, then sank to the bottom and lay there on her side. Fearing the very worse, I phoned Mr Gladys who rushed home thinking he was going to have to perform a funeral. I duely rushed in and out of the shower by which time he was back to find said fish swimming around with her friends. Her skin is bright, her fins are normal and not clamped, no sores, worms or strange things on her. Her friends in the form of two bigger Koi but one in particular seems to be very closely by her side as in touching as they swim. I have a notion these two are boys. I didn't feed them again until now and notice that whilst she's swimming around she isn't interested in food. I did a water test- all fine but thinking she may be under the weather I added some pond salt to buffer the conditions and to improve immunity. Does any one have a clue what may be wrong? I am thinking she may be coming to spawn but it really isn't warm enough yet for those shenanigans or is it?

One for all the composters out there: http://news.warwickshire.gov.uk/blog/2015/01/28/what-do-cereal-boxes-potato-peelings-and-wee-all-have-in-common/

I have the tiniest primrose plant growing in between two little rocks.It appeared about 3 years ago ,but flowering in January !!

Our snowdrops seemed to appear a few days early this year, and the green bits of some of our daffodils have poking up out or the soil for a couple of weeks too.

I bought one of these compost bins a few years ago, and have found it really useful. It's a shame the composting sessions are being held when most people are at work: http://news.warwickshire.gov.uk/blog/2015/03/23/5-compost-bins-for-warwickshire-residents/

£5/bin, now that is good value.

The BBC site has a couple of interesting articles on making compost.

I might look those up, although putting the compost bin in a sunny spot and filling it with a mix of grass clippings, general prunings, vegetable offcuts & the occasional bucket of water seems to work well for me.

There was a compost bin left in the garden when we moved to our present home, I think it must have been unused for a while as I discovered rather a large ants nest in it, and managed to get rid of it.

How can I naturally treat black spot on my rose bushes, the buds are showing now and I've been nipping off affected leaves that have been blighted with black spot. I had a terrible time last year with the same problem as well.

The Royal Horticultural Society offers a few ideas

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=270


Milk might help

http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/05/got-black-spot-get-milk/


And a few more natural ideas here

http://axiomathome.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/natural-treatments-for-black-spot-on.html


Hope one of these ideas helps you Margaret.

Great ideas and inexpensive too. Except I will have to see what the Horticulture oil is like.

Thanks a billion, rebbonk!