Gardening is an all-the-year-around activity although you might not think it on the dark, damp and dreary days of mid-winter when all the gardeners in the district seem to be in hibernation.

A survey by one of the big horticultural companies showed that whereas patio gardening had doubled within ten years, this interest fell away once summer was over. This means that a lot of potential garden colour is being lost. Most problems arise because we are loth to end our summer displays. Too many hanging baskets are left hanging outside until winter strikes with the result that the tender plants are lost.

Planting up winter baskets to take their place is a neglected art.

A simple basket arrangement of variegated holly and ivy makes a cheerful and pretty mix of yellow, white and green for that prime position beside the front door. Tubs, troughs and window boxes can all be planted up with plants which will look their best during

autumn and winter and spring bulbs underneath to take over in spring.

Winter-flowering pansies and violas are in plentiful supply for this job. One of the best violas used for winter display is viola wittrockiana Hobbit Bilbo Baggins, a charming dwarf variety with a happy smiling face which can be in bloom almost throughout the year.

Seed catalogues can usually be relied upon to indicate which pansies and violas are good for most if not all the winters we are likely to experience. All are easy to raise, ideally in a sandy loam although they will grow in just about any well-drained site. When spaced eight to ten inches apart in bedding you can achieve a mass of colour.

There are scores of richly coloured evergreens and conifers too.

A collection of the slow growing varieties of conifer, planted with a mix of summer and winter flowering heathers, can provide year round interest in a patio or container garden that will take very little maintenance.

By Jim Roberts