Alexandra Oakley 
The cold spell has meant one main job this week: fleece on at night, fleece off again in the morning, and trying to remember it before bedtime. It is not glamorous, but it matters at this time of year, especially when I have got ranunculus and other autumn-sown things I am trying to shepherd through winter.
In between the freezing temperatures I have been doing smaller jobs rather than anything ambitious. I topped up the bird feeders after realising how busy the garden was with little birds the other day, and I have also been tackling the nettles that keep creeping into the back border from the woods behind us.
January always makes me think about how much this whole love of gardening took me by surprise. A few years ago I knew very little, and now I am out there in the cold thinking about borders, seedlings and where on earth to fit more pots.
Speaking of pots, I keep saying you do not need a huge garden to grow plenty of flowers. Half the trouble here is that I have too many ideas and not enough space, which is exactly how so many things end up in containers here.
