IT was a year ago that I started building up my main borders.

I know this because the first new plant that I bought specifically for theses borders was a trillium erectum, and its re-emergence from the depths of the woodchip has reminded me that the Harrogate Spring Flower Show is on this week.

It was there that I bought the small woodland-loving plant. It was a plant that I had always coveted and eventually, once I had tracked one down, begrudged paying out so much money for.

I thought that I had managed to kill it off last year. I moved it three times in total.

It just didn't seem to be in the right place at first, and then I acquired one or two other plants, which needed planting into the same bed, so I had to move everything around again.

I was astounded and elated when I noticed earlier this week that the trillium had pushed its way through all the mulch and manhandling and was standing proud in the shade of the rowan tree. There is not one, but two stems now, and the larger of the two has a large, swelling bud at the very top of the stem.

I do believe that it is going to reward me with a flower this year. It has made me feel guilty though, as I really don't deserve to see it flower.

I can see the trillium from my new bench.

I have waited a year before buying and placing seating in the garden. I have wanted to see how the garden develops, where the quietest and most attractive stopping areas are, and how the sun moves throughout the year. I already had the summer house and decking in the far corner of the garden. That has established itself quite firmly as the evening seating and barbecue space.

I needed something on which to sit on for the first coffee in the morning and for that fifteen minutes straight after work in which to unwind, collect your thoughts and plan the evening meal.

The sunshine streams down towards the left hand corner of garden, near the house in the mornings. This is an area which is very underused as it is near the boundary of the next-door cemetery.

However, the views of the garden are quite attractive, and it is very quiet and peaceful here.

I put in an ordinary four-foot park style bench in this spot. Immediately to the left of the bench though I have had to plant a large growing, but tameable conifer (thuja, not Leylandi mind, not quite as bad), just to keep the odd passer by from looking directly onto the bench.

The other bench I have put near the pond. I had to cut down a large and overgrown buddleja to clear a space for it, but I have various other buddleias in the garden. This bench is slightly artier being curved to complement the shape of the pond. With both benches I have drilled into the each leg and inserted 12 inch bolts.

These have been seriously concreted into the ground, and should prove a deterrent, if not an impasse, for any opportunist thief wishing to whip the benches away over the fence.

I have made sure to try both benches out this past sunny week. They both surely do offer restful full stops to viewing the unfolding of the spring garden.

The only fault that I have come across so far is that the second bench, the curved one near the pond, does not have flat surfaces to its arm rests upon which to perch a glass. Oh, well, it gives me an excuse to swallow my evening sundowner that bit quicker doesn't it?

JOBS TO DO THIS WEEK

Plant evergreens Now is a good time to plant evergreen shrubs in the garden. Things like camellia, skimmia, choisya, laurel and pieris tend to take readily if planted in the slightly warm, but still moderately damp soils of April.

Sow a lawn by seed The weather conditions are usually ideal in late April for sowing a lawn from seed. However, as we are lacking the showers so typical of the time you may have to add to the watering yourself with the aid of a hosepipe and sprinkler.

Spilt snowdrops Snowdrops are best propagated and moved whilst still 'in the green'. This means whilst the last of the foliage still remains proud. Dig up the whole clump. Split by physically pulling it apart, and then replant where wanted, making sure to put them down as far into the ground as they were previously.

EVENT OF THE WEEK.

Sunday sees the first ever Farmers' Market in Middlesbrough. This is an opportunity for local producers to show and sell their wares. These wares range from home-reared lamb, beef, buffalo and deer to local cheeses, jams, relishes, honey and wines, to herbs and plants and organic vegetables. All the produce is made using local wholesome ingredients.

Alongside the farmers' market is a craft fair. Once again this gives the people of Middlesbrough and surrounding towns and villages the opportunity to see and purchase a wide range of crafts made by local people.

Both these events are being held at Nature's World (signposted off the A19 and 174, squashed between the Bluebell pub and the municipal golf course). The fun begins at 10am and will run until late in the afternoon.

Brigid is on hand to answer all of your horticultural queries every Sunday from midday to 2pm on Radio Cleveland's Ask About Gardening.

You can send your questions to be answered in The Northern Echo to Brigid at brigidpress67.freeserve.co.uk or write to her care of Nature's World, Ladgate Lane, Acklam, Middlesbrough.

Published 26/04/2003