If you go to their website, www.seedsofitaly.com you can enjoy an entertaining read and also download an advance copy of their 2010 catalogue. It is guaranteed to conjure up sunny days even in the middle of winter.

This is a good time to take a break from practical gardening books and read something really inspiring. I’m currently reading The Morville Hours by Katherine Swift  and cannot recommend it highly enough.  It is a jewel of a book that takes its inspiration from the medieval Book of Hours and tells the story of how Katherine made a garden in a place that had been inhabited and gardened since medieval times. Using historical plants she laid out a series of gardens each reflecting one particular period of the garden’s history.  But this is much more than an academic exercise, it is the tale of one woman’s passion for her garden and the daily struggles to realise her dream.

I’ve mentioned Gold Leaf gardening gloves before but thought I would give a special mention to their Winter Touch Gloves which features a Thinsulate™ thermal lining to keep your hands warm even in the coldest weather and also benefits from an additional innovative Ski-Dri™ waterproof, breathable lining which ensures your hands remain totally dry. £19.95 from  www.harrodhorticultural.com

• If we do have heavy snow falls a) enjoy it b) knock accumulations off  your plants before the weight of the snow causes any damage
• Keep an eye on the birdbath and fill it with warm water if it freezes over
• Put your feet up and browse the seed catalogues ready to put in a post-Christmas order
• If the relatives are driving you mad, get outside and turn the compost heap!

The earliest hellebore flowers emerge beneath a dusting of snow…