For me, it has been the Month of the Tulip. Have they lasted so well this year because of the cold? Last April we had a heatwave and the tulips seems to be over and gone in the blink of an eye.

But this year I have photographed them speckled with snowflakes and frosted, bejewelled with raindrops and then fully open in the sunshine, shouting to the bees with their multicoloured interiors.

I still prefer the traditional plain tulip - simple, elegant and robust. It’s amazing that they remain so proudly upright despite the diversity of weather that gets thrown at them.

Fancy varieties, such as the multi-coloured and Parrot Tulip, I may come around to liking as time goes by. It’s strange that their feathered and mottled appearance is due to breeding in the Mosaic Tulip Virus.

How we do mess with nature - should we listen to Monty Don and do away with all our non-indigenous species and stop playing? I would so miss the tulips in the garden… and the crocus, cyclamen, rosemary, buddleja, hollyhock, box, hebe, lupin, fuchsia, hydrangea….. the list goes on…

And how the slugs would miss the hostas!