I have,  and am, growing Red Robin windowsill tomatoes for myself but primarily for giveaways to non gardener friends.  Next year (or maybe even this year) I've a mind to diversify and try a different variety.   I see there's Sweet 'n Neat and Micro Tom, anyone have experience of these and any others.  I'm growing Vilma but think they might be a bit too tall for a windowsill.

Happy birthday Danny, have a great day

This one was commended rather than won, but I can just imagine the big lump in my Labrador's throat if it was him, love it 

Close Encounter by Guillermo Esteves, from the US

Attached Files

Thumbnail(s)
   

There are lots of birds using our feeders at the moment; sparrows, chaffinches, several robins, blackbirds, blue and great tits and some large woodpeckers and an occasional long tailed tit.
Fieldfares visit when very cold like this for the apples still on the ground. A couple of thrushes visit regularly for the escargot. I saw one hammering on a stone when i went for a walk this afternoon.
I'm a bit worried for the birds I've not seen lately. I've not seen any wrens since the start of the year or buzzards of which I used to regularly see five or six spread out in one particular field. I think the cold is taking its toll.

We all get photos of some very arty stuff created by nature. So let’s see them    .
So here’s my first one. Ice from the dogs outside water bowl.

   

So today I got round to adjusting a dove cote which is past it's best from my parents house which they dont want any more. I originally thought I could put it up at our house with a bit of a fettle. Unfortunately I never got round to it so instead I have repurposed it in to a hedgehog hotel.

Before
   

Chopped in half with bed box lid chopped (I've boarded up all but one entrance and the hole in the bottom
   

Tunnel 
   

Pushed in to place (another board was added yo close gap at top)
   

In position with top back on to give heavy top, a bit of insulation and good area for extra air to come in. 
   

I've heard a lot about Jackie French, in particular that she says that the soil isn't warm enough to plant anything until you can sit on it with your bare bottom and not feel the cold - something like that anyway!!
Her books are like gold dust second-hand so when I saw this one for a measly £2.95, I pounced!
I've only read a few chapters since it arrived this morning but enough to realise a few things - firstly, since she is Australian, the sowing months need to be turned on their heads for the Northern hemisphere.
Secondly, I've had to google some of the plant names like Kumera (Sweet potato), Choko, Kurrajong and Irish strawberries!!
As for "Bandicooting potatoes" - I'll let you look that one up!!
I know she grows plants that we can only dream of growing outdoors, like citrus and avocados but there are suggestions for colder climates. .........and a small suburban garden is quarter acre...but I like the way she writes and there are some wacky suggestions in there that I think I will relate to, so, stand by your beds and be prepared.

Spotted this on Facebook.

Complaints to Councils and extracts of letters written to them:

Hello Folks

I thought I'd start this thread for people to track/discuss how their shallots perform this year.

I still need to order my Zebrune seeds and was planning sowing in modules sometime in March?

OK, so after reading Specs thread on heating cables I've suddenly realised I can't do without a heat bed to take dahlia cuttings and start of some seedlings. 

I hate DIY and the thought of buying in all the bits...so I've been researching - I've come across the HOTBOX Heatwave mats. It's a complete set up and probably a less fuss option for me.
You buy the heatmat the size of your requirements and they supply the thermostat.
You put it on your bench on top of a thick layer of polystyrene, plastic/pond liners? on top and then a layer of capillary matting. Plug it in and away to go.

I like the simplicity of it. I'm very much tempted even though I should be spending my pennies on a kitchen sink.