Chic dining.. whatever your budget; Gardening.

Byline: PIPPA GREENWOOD

We seem to have been blessed with warm weather so far this year and - fingers crossed - the Met Office is predicting more of the same.

So if you haven't got kitted out already, it's well worth investing in some gorgeous garden furniture to help you make the most of that summer outdoor room.

After all, what better way to catch up with friends, or just chill out while the kids play, than in the privacy of your own sunny backyard.

It needn't cost a fortune either - check out these three stylish looks on three different budgets... then look forward to a balmy summer of laidback weekends and long, warm evenings.

Mid-range Under pounds 250

Tiffany patio table, pounds 99, and matching chairs, two for pounds 100, glass hurricane candle, pounds 10, all Debenhams. Green enamel jug, pounds 13, terracotta pots, from pounds 12.99, both Wyevale. Black fretwork lantern, pounds 4.99, Sainsbury's. Acrylic goblet, pounds 8 for a set of eight, Next.

Blow the budget Under pounds 560

Rye garden set, pounds 349.99, TJ Hughes. Denby white dinner plates, pounds 10.50 each, Denby white side plates, pounds 8.50 each, Corto glass goblets, pounds 17 for four, glass hurricane lantern, pounds 28,and Stanton cutlery set, pounds 31 for 7 pieces, all John Lewis. Wooden salad bowl, pounds 14.99, Different By Design at Sainsbury's.

Happy Father's Day!

There's nothing to beat a really good pair of comfy wellies, so why not treat your dad to a Town and Country pair for Father's Day? They're stylish as well as comfortable with a contoured leg for a snug fit, and a lovely soft lining too.

Available from many good garden centres or by mail order, they come in dark green or navy blue, sizes 3-12, priced from pounds 34.99. Call 01530 830990 or visit www.townandco.com for more information, local stockists or to order.

Bargain style Under pounds 170

Lisbon black-glass garden table, pounds 37.20, matching set of six Lisbon chairs with parasol, pounds 89.98, all B& Q. Dotty acrylic jug, pounds 4.99, dotty salad bowl, pounds 4.99, 16-piece cutlery set, pounds 9.99, and serving plates, from pounds 1.49 each, all Sainsbury's. Tropical acrylic beakers, pounds 2 each, Asda.

Solve it!

The problem: Your courgettes are producing fruit but then, before they are up to full size, the flower end starts to rot. or pest, but this problem is usually down to watering. It's easy to blame a disease The petals on a courgette are particularly soft and easily damaged and, if they get too wet, the flower will rot off and then the rot spreads into the cour-gettfruit, leaving a brown and often slimy mess.

The solution: Always water directly to the root area, not over the top of the courgette plants to reduce the problem. If the weather is wet, as soon as the courgettes start to swell, carefully remove the faded flower from the end of the fruit so there's nowhere for the rot to start.

PIPPA GREENWOOD has presented her own series, Growing Science, on Radio 4 for three years and is a regular panelist on the station's Gardeners' Question Time. She's also written many books including Pippa Greenwood's Gardening Year (Headline, pounds 16.99).

Send your questions, comments and tips to Pippa at [e-mail]

WHERE TO BUY: www.asda.co.uk www.debenhams.com www.diy.com www.gardentrading.co.uk www.johnlewis.com www.next.co.uk www.sainsburys.co.uk www.tjhughes.co.uk www.wyevale.co.uk