Merry MONTH OF MAY

A cool change sets in as the garden gets ready for a winter makeover

- Adam Woodhams

There's no doubt now that winter is just around the corner. Mornings are cool, days are shorter and many plants have entered their winter dormancy. If you planted spring flowering bulbs early, some of them might pop up - paperwhite jonquils may already be flowering.

FLOWERING NOW

That fabulous seasonal show of the autumn-coloured trees has come to its inevitable end but there's other fun colour to keep the garden interesting.

• AZALEAS Don't dismiss these shade-lovers as old fashioned or a grandma plant. They come in a huge range of bright colours.

• CAMELLIAS Japonicas are coming into bloom. They have bigger flowers and leaves than the sasanquas and a wider range of flower colours and forms too.

• DAPHNES One of the most divine perfumes would have to belong to the daphnes. Take care when planting as they hate root disturbance and must have good drainage.

• ROSES In warmer zones, repeat-flowering roses will be putting on the last of their multi-seasonal show. Enjoy them in a vase as pruning time will be here before you know it.

THE VEGIE PATCH