Do it this week . . . Notebook Best of the Bunch Escallonia.

1 Spring in your garden - if you are a regular visitor to our local garden centres, you will know that over the next few weeks, they will be taking receipt of their annual supplies of spring bulbs for us to select from.

So, before you rush to the centres with thoughts of 'a host of golden daffodils', take stock of what your garden looked like in spring and decide where the gaps are and where bulbs failed to give of their best.

Remember that narcissi, crocuses and hyacinth respond well to early planting in September and October but tulips are best planted later in November.

Look out for some of the more unusual bulbs that might suite particular conditions in your garden - fritillaria meleagris and leucojums like it wet, anemone blanda likes it partially shaded and camassias do well in long grass.

2 Empty vegetable plots - by now some vegetable crops will have completed their cycle of life and given you a bumper harvest, hopefully.

You may be wondering what you can plant now to give you some benefits rather than leaving the plot empty.

Green manure is the answer - sown over the next few weeks, the green manure will germinate and grow into strong young plants that can survive our winters.

In late winter, these crops can be 'harvested' as a cut crop for composting or can be dug into the soil to rot down and provide valuable organic matter.

Look out for seed of Italian ryegrass, mustard, fodder radish, buckwheat, fenugreek, field beans, vetch and Phacelia. Visit www.gardenorganic.org.uk and www.organiccatalogue.com for more ideas.

HAVING come from a seaside town, I have been used to seeing escallonias growing in parks and gardens since I was a child.

Their ability to cope with salt-laden winds and the strong sunlight that is so typical of coastal areas, makes them a must in the coastal gardens of Britain. It is because of this ability that they do not tend to be used much in inland gardens - perhaps we associate them with the relative warmth of coastal areas and therefore assume that they cannot cope with colder situations away from the influences of the sea.

They are, with our progressively milder winters, a safer bet now and, apart from very cold winter winds and shady areas, will manage in almost every other garden situation. Dependant upon whether they are grown as a specimen or a hedge, they will flower almost continuously during the summer, peaking at this time of year with their clusters of white, pink and red flowers, set above often dark green foliage. If you are uncertain and feel that your garden is a little too cold for them, try planting one near a south-facing wall for extra warmth and protection.

The original fifty or so wild species are from South America and can reach heights of 3 metres in a rich soil. Grown as a free-standing shrub, they do not need any pruning to make them perform well and can be kept under control by trimming back excessive growth in April.

Look out for the following cultivars: E. 'Apple Blossom', E.

'Langleyensis', E. 'Crimson Spire' and E. 'Edinensis.' All of them will make into excellent hedges.

My diary . . .

Bloomin' Blagden - if you are a resident on the Blagden Farm Estate in Newsome, you have a fabulous opportunity to enter the Blagden Farm Tenants and Residents Association's new gardening competition with a whole range of prizes to look forward to.

If you have not had a leaflet dropped through your letter box over recent weeks, why not call Francis Reeves on 01484 307039 for some details. The judging takes place on Saturday August 23 and yours truly will be amongst the judges.

RHS Garden Harlow Carr - if you have not visited these gardens for a few years, you might be in for a big surprise. Since the RHS took over the ownership and management of the gardens more than five years ago, Harlow Carr Gardens has changed out of all recognition. Call the gardens on 01423 565418 for details of forthcoming events or visit www.rhs.org.uk and search for the Harlow Carr programme of events.

Alternatively, just take yourself off to the gardens and enjoy all the new features. A date for your diaries at RHS Garden Harlow Carr - September 7 - an NCCPG Autumn Plant Fair that should not be missed.