Weekend Gardening Update: August blues

SUSAN WALKER of Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, writes in sympathy with my feelings about the August garden (Independent, 8 August). 'The hollyhocks have got the rust and shed nasty squishy dead flowers which I inevitably tread into the house. The roses have got black spot. The tobacco plants have got mould. Recent heavy rain shredded the petunias. The runner beans aren't setting . . .'

Her list of disasters was so much longer than mine, it made me feel quite good about the garden. Thank you, Mrs Walker.