Gardening Tips Your fortnightly gardening tips for indoors and outdoors

Often a month of contrasts, one day winter and the next glorious spring, by its end the energy of the new season will be fully apparent, masses of golden forsythias reach towards the clouds. Closer to the ground, the little alpine plants are celebrating the end of winter and have burst into their frenetic activity, blossom and then leaves aiming to complete their tasks before the winter closes in again. Slugs are on their slimy march and the first insects are getting busy- some days the heathers are already alive with bees. The grass, if we have any, can no longer be ignored, and the mower will have to be brought out again. Shrubs and trees that are not yet in bloom are fattening in bud and can hardly wait. Some that we do not really regard as first- line floral beauties surprise us again.

MAKING THE MOST OF FERTILISERS
All creation is on the move and needs feeding, but gardeners should be selective in their choice and use of fertilisers to avoid wasting both time and money. There is a natural breakdown of organic matter that will release nutrients to dissolve in the soil water and be passed up from the rooting system to the factory floor of the leaves. Shrubs and trees are likely to find plenty of their own nutrients in the soil. You can help by giving mulches of leaves or manures. Trees are marvellous things. In the garden they help to ensure that all is not too two –dimensional: they pull the sky into the picture frame. They provide a strong presence and, if chosen carefully, plenty of interest in return for minimal maintenance, having said this, there are plenty of trees that it would be unkind or foolish to plant in the small garden. The place for a forest tree is in a forest: nor do we want to place in a prominent spot a tree that is continually dropping twigs and leaves, such as the otherwise engaging corkscrew willow. Some trees exude juices that can annoy and disfigure what is below: others, whilst a joy for a brief period, like the flowering almonds, are almost boring for the rest of the year. When space is limited you need to make a good choice. You will want a tree that makes a good shape, is not too large, looks well in leaf and perhaps has two seasons of special attraction, maybe spring blossom and autumn colour or fruit.

My daughter-in-law always said that I spoiled the grandchildren. I always denied it as I really didnÕt think that I did until one day when we were out shopping and she asked Joanne, "What's the magic word to get what you want?"Quite promptly little Joanne replied, "Grandma!"I was horrified.

Coffee Morning, Old Haybarn
Opp. Bluebell in centre of Langham.
March 19th 10-12 noon.
Various stalls and Easter gifts.

Handel's Messiah in Cromer

Following the successful visit to Nidda by members of Sheringham & Cromer Choral Society in November 2004, about forty members of the host Society, der Konzertchor des ''Sangerkranz 1839'' will pay a return visit during the week-end 11-13 March.
On Saturday 12th March, the combined choirs will sing Handel's Messiah in Cromer Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul at 7.00pm. The performance will be conducted by Christian Stirling, S&CCS's resident Music Director. Admission is £6 (concessions £5), School pupils free. Advance tickets will be available from ''K'' Hardware Store, Church Street, Cromer and ''Whistle-Stop'' Newsagents, 2 Station Approach Sheringham or, on the night, at the door.
Dr R A Allen.