Things are on the move in the great outdoors, reports Gina Parkinson.

It has been cold this week but a quick look in the garden on Thursday showed things are still on the move despite a drop in temperature.

Roses are well into growth with many strong, deep red shoots already several inches long and the first forget-me-nots are just about coming into bloom.

In a few weeks the beds will be filled with these plants, self-seeded from last year which I love, although I know some gardeners consider them to be pest because they spread so easily.

I like their tenacity despite their sad mildewed leaves in June. This contrast of rich new shoots and small blue flowers is echoed in a pot by the front door where the new leaves of Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin' are just beginning to show their bright colour above clumps of grape hyacinth. Elsewhere, shoots of the yellow grass Millium effusum 'Aureum' or Bowles' golden grass are beginning to appear around the beds, bright splodges of colour dotted in the dark earth.

About now this grass is small and neat and looks good planted with dark violas and wanda pimulas.

By the end of the month, as these early spring flowers fade, it will be taller, making it a good companion for swathes of forget-me-nots and blue bells, and later still to grow through taller plants like Anthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenwing', a cow parsley with very dark leaves.

Harrogate Spring Flower Show

The 78th annual Harrogate Spring Flower Show takes place at the Great Yorkshire Showground in the town for four days from Thursday, April 28, to Sunday, May 1.

Organised by the North of England Horticultural Society, a charity which supports horticulture in the north, the show will include more than 100 of the country's top horticultural nurseries as well as garden sundries, regional foods and arts and crafts.

Record crowds attended the show last year which was blessed with good weather but rain doesn't need to put visitors off since more than 70 per cent of the show is under cover in the two flower hall and several large fully ramped and floored marquees.

These will house 18 amateur societies from bee keepers to tulip exhibitors, alpine enthusiasts to fruit growers as well as floristry competitions and garden designers.

The Spring Flower Show is open from 9.30am-5.30pm (4.30pm on Sunday) daily with tickets on sale at the gate ranging in price from £10 - £13 per person depending on the day of the visit. Pre booked tickets will have a reduction of £2 per ticket if booked before noon on Tuesday April 19. The booking line 0870 758333 in open Mon-Fri 8.30am-4.30pm.

Garden talk

There will be a talk on The New Gardens Of Harlow Carr by RHS curator Matthew Wilson next Tuesday in the Conference Hall at Askham Bryan College. Organised by Askham Bryan College Gardening Club the talk will begin at 7.30pm. Tickets at the door are free to Club members and £4 for non-members.

Open gardens

Sunday, April 3

In aid of British Red Cross.

Swinton Gardens, Masham, from Ripon take the A6108 to Masham, the gardens are sign posted from there. Large grounds with woodland walks around lakes and a waterfall plus a spring garden. Map provided. Refreshments and plants for sale. Open 2-5pm. Admission £2 adult, accompanied children free.

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme

Acorn Cottage, 50 Church Street, Boston Spa, one mile south of Wetherby. Small walled alpine garden with a collection of plants established more than 80 years and over two generations including small flowering bulbs. Teas on sale. Open 10-5pm. Admission £2 adult, 50p child.

Londesborough Cross, Shiptonthorpe, two miles from Market Weighton off the A1079 York-Hull road. Former railway goods yard now garden featuring new woodland garden with many hardy ferns. Teas on sale. Open 1-4pm. Admission £2.50 adult, accompanied children free.

Ness Hall, Nunnington, from the B1257 Helmsley-Malton road at Slingsby turn on to road signed Kirkbymoorside, Ness is three miles. Large walled garden with mixed and herbaceous borders undergoing reconstruction, and orchard with shrubs and climbing roses. Teas on sale. Open 2-5pm. Admission £2.50.

Wednesday, April 6

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme

Acorn Cottage, Londesborough Cross and Ness Gardens, see details below left.

Hunmanby Grange, Wold Newton, 12.5miles south east of Scarborough.

Three-acre garden created from an exposed open field now sheltered by hedges and fences which form a series of garden planted for year round interest with seasonal highlights.

Adjacent nursery open. Open 1pm-5pm. Admission £2.50.

Updated: 08:44 Saturday, April 02, 2005