The first of my mason bees hatched on Sunday afternoon!

   

They're really small - that's 5mm dot grid paper under the plastic tub! Admittedly the females will be a bit bigger, but none of them have hatched yet - the males hatch first, as in the wild they are usually situated closest to the mouth of the nest tunnel, while the females are further back.

Five more males have hatched since I took this first photo, and I have 40 cocoons in total, so soon my garden will be abuzz with tiny bees!

I'm curious! 
Have you ever won a prize in a competition? 
I'm always reading about people who've won houses, cars and exotic holidays in the simplest of competitions but all I can remember winning is a book and a pair of uncomfortable wellies. 

Do real people (that's us) win prizes or are these imaginary winners who always manage to look attractive in photographs!!

I always grow courgettes which I like to eat. I am growing cucumbers which although I am not too fond of, don't mind eating now and again.
I am not fond of Butternut Squash but might have a go with another squash (yet to be decided)

The main reason for posting is, how about melons in a cold frame and what are the best and hardiest cultivars. Sharks fin is a nice plant but I have just found out I am not struck on the taste.(Probably because its a gourd?)

I have two raised beds (can be used as cold frames with a glass covering if required) . Each are about 1 metre X 2 metre. One will hold four courgette plants methinks, and the other is to hold a couple of yet to be determined cucurbits. The cucumbers will be in the greenhouse.

I'm thinking one melon and one squash? Any recommendations? Do squash not do better climbing rather than scrambling?

Anyone have an idea the ultimate pot size I should put my razzamatazz in.  I had hoped it would sit on a windowsill indoors so possibly 8" max, but if it won't like that restriction, then I can reconsider it location.

Ok, I'm starting a new border  I know I shouldn't as I have too much to do already but when my new kitchen gets done ( if ever!) I want o look out onto a small woods ( group of 5 trees)  under planted with spring bulbs and lots of interest...I also want to bring in more birds/habitat.


So, I've planted 2 silver birch, 3 paper bark birch. Cheap trees - they were bare root whips about 5 foot tall. I would like a clear stem, so I can under plant and walk through. They have small branches at the moment. When, what do I prune? Any links would be helpful. I have been looking but not found much yet...happy to read lots. Even a decent book maybe?

Just for you, Vinny.

Show us your tallest sunflower and let's try to grow one taller than Vinny's

I have planted out my heat treated onion sets and when removing my covering of fleece I see that all the leaf tops have been cut off, which I have put down to mice, rather than snails, so first question, will it effect the growth of the onions and second, how can I stop this happening

Disaster!  Ur local Lidl has changed the depth of their flower buckets, they're now half depth.  OK they're still useful but not what I'm used to.  Has anyone else found this?

Just a rant, something has been in there so whatever I've done to date is lost.

Given the success rate on the chitted seed I'm wondering if it's actually worth giving it another go?

You have to rescue bees when they get in the tunnel or greenhouse don’t you. I used to wait till they were buzzing around at a height I could reach them. Then pot a pot over them & slip some paper or something between pot and tunnel wall. Take them out & let them go. It worked but it was time consuming, stressful for the bee and there’s always the chance of accidentally hurt the bee by trapping a leg os something. 
I came up with a new approach at the end of last season. I pick a small bunch of flowers. After the bee has been bouncing around and getting tired. Just hold the flowers up to the bee. They climb on for a feed and you can walk them outside stress free.

         

For the bees that rest out of reach. Stick your little bunch of flowers in the end of a cane.