We have had a couple of weeks of clear blue skies and stunning frosts, which make even the most mudane parts of the garden look stunning.  I never like cutting things back until I really have to, and this is why.  Dead heads dusted with frost are one of the joys of the winter.  The birds also appeciate it as well.

Just as I start getting excited about the vegetables we will be eating over the Christmas period I realise that the wretched pigeons have got amongst the brassicas and caused havoc.  The calabrese may well recover in the spring, but the cabages and sprouts are looking very sorry for themselves.  Does anyone know of a good way to keep pigeons away other than netting?

And if you fancy roast pigeon for Christmas dinner, you only need to ask!

At this time of year frosted seed heads look wonderful and they provide an important food source for garden birds.  So resist the temptation to tidy herbaceous borders, and instead spend the time more productively making Christmas pudding and mince pies!

If your garden is short of seed heads and other natural bird food, you can supplement with bird seed sunflowers, which are very nutritious for the birds as well as being an eye catching addition to your garden.