Those gardeners who have been wise enough to plant a flowering quince, commonly called japonica, are now reaping the benefits.

Its bright red flowers on bare brown stems are a picture. In summer, its dark green, leathery foliage hides its sharp, long spikes.

The botanical name for it is chaenomeles. There are several main species and quite a lot of different hybrids.

The chaenomeles, along with the bellflower cherry, are one of the first blossom trees to flower and announce that spring is not far away.

There are single and double forms and as well as red, there are pink, white and tricolour forms.

In spring, a thick covering of oval, dark green serrated leaves appears. The blossoms fall and leave a hardy, bushy plant that provides a good screen or hedge, one that deters animal or human intruders with its sharp thorns.

In autumn, the japonica is also ornamental, with golden yellow fruit just like miniature quinces. These can be used in jams and jellies.

Chaenomeles prefer a heavy or loamy soil and a regular supply of water. But they are also quite drought tolerant and do well in exposed sites and rockeries. They can withstand heavy frosts and smoggy city air.

One thing to remember is that japonica will not flower in the shade. It must have a sunny position.

The days are supposed to be getting longer, according to the calendar, but it’s hard to see any difference.

However, early planting in the vegetable garden can go ahead.

Broad beans, cabbage and cauliflower, early pinkeye potatoes (but cover the foliage of these until frost danger has passed), onion seedlings, massey or Melbourne market peas, silver beet, can all go in. You can try sowing carrot seed, but germination will be better when the weather has warmed up a bit.

Give your vacant vegetable beds a good dose of dolomite and dig it in ready for spring planting, but not where you will grow potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes or peppers.

The best activity for vegetable gardeners now is to start seeds in containers under glass or indoors so that seedlings will be ready for planting out in spring.

There will be the usual efforts by many gardeners in the coming season to start tomatoes early to have them ripe by Christmas.

Hellebores are a group of pretty plants that flower in winter, when other blooms are scarce.

They include the winter rose, Christmas rose and lenten rose.

They usually thrive in limestone areas. Some have their flowers at the end of leafy stems and others have their flowers and leaves near the base of the plant.

Hellebores like the cool climate of Tasmania and prefer a shaded position. The soil should preferably be clay or loam, rather than sandy.

It should hold sufficient moisture so the roots remain cool and don’t dry out.

Before planting, the soil should be enriched with compost or rotted animal manure. Add a surface mulch, to protect the roots.

When planting hellebores choose the right position, as they don’t like being disturbed for several years.

If you are buying bare-rooted rose bushes or fruit trees, it’s important not to let the roots dry out.

If there’s any delay in planting, put them in water.

Water them in thoroughly when they are planted and tie firmly, but not tightly, to a stake.

And remember to check the ties every few months. If left, they can eventually cut into the trunk as it grows and ringbark the tree.

And if you want to move any deciduous trees or shrubs, this is the time to do it. But be careful.

Water thoroughly before moving them, get plenty of soil around the root ball and have the new hole prepared.