This is one of the earliest violets to flower. Hence its name: Viola Christmas. 

Fans of Harry potter may recall that Harry and his classmates were required to wear earmuffs while repotting mandrake plants in their herbology lesson. This, like much of Rowling's fiction, is based on actual mythology.First recorded in England in 15...

We had a friendly Goldcrest visit us in the potting shed today. The Goldcrest is the UKs smallest bird and we usually only see them flitting in and out of the hedges so this was a treat. We think it must have hit the window as it was a bit…