Monty Don shares his advice for growing biennials in an extract from his classic book Gardening At Longmeadow. British gardening expert says now is the time to sow Lunaria annua.

Now is the time to deal with winter jasmine. Though spectacularly beautiful with cheerful yellow flowers from November to March, this shrub is ferociously invasive.

Camellias are giving a wonderful show this year, but it will soon be over. After flowering has finished, give each shrub a vigorous shake to dislodge any dead blooms.

Welsh composer Ivor Novello was spot on with his song We’ll Gather ­Lilacs. They’re surely the most romantic of spring flowers and, for that reason alone, they belong in everyone’s garden.

This is a good weekend to sow pumpkin, gourd, courgette or marrow seeds directly outdoors. And it’s by no means too late to sow turnips, beetroot, runner beans, spinach or chard.

Among frost-tender crops, the tomato is king. Fancy alternatives such as melons or aubergines can be tricky, but tomatoes are a favourite because they’re dependable.

This is a good time to refresh compost if you grow camellias or azaleas in containers. Ericaceous compost loses acidity — especially when hard water is used.

This year’s winter was abnormally dry in many regions. And now, just when growth should run at top speed, it’s drier still. We’re heading for a drought. For gardeners, that’s a disappointment.

Chelsea Flower Show is next week. Tickets are almost sold out, but you can enjoy the show in comfort at home. You might even see more on television than when buffeted by the crowds.

Water makes a charming feature in almost any garden. But a fine setting will bring greater beauty. If a well-planted bog comes up to the pond edge and reflects on the surface, that scene is perfected.

A 74-year-old woman in Newcastle and a 79-year-old man on the Northern Beaches died. Both people had been passengers on the ill-fated Ruby Princess cruise.

Chanelle Ngohe, from Wellington, New Zealand posted the simple recipe for her five minute Dairy Milk Crunchie fudge to the Facebook group Crockpot/Slow Cooker Recipes & Tips.

Nicola Chisolm, 47, from Lincolnshire, overcome disability, illness and fertility issues to welcome triplets with husband Nick. However, they arrived just as New Zealand was put on lockdown.

It is unlikely any criminal charges will ever be laid over the Ruby Princess debacle and it is 'odd' New South Police are even investigating it, according to a  legal expert.

Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy joked 'you're very lucky Ruby Princess unloaded in Sydney rather than in New Zealand' and nervously laughed during a briefing to Kiwi politicians.

While Professor Brendan Murphy remains committed towards getting transmissions down to as low as possible, he believes the ultimate goal of total elimination could be unachievable.

Two hospitals in Burnie, northwest Tasmania, were closed on Monday amid a cluster of more than 60 COVID-19 cases, including about 45 staff, associated with the facilities.

Luis Pitarma, 29, was one of the two nurses singled out for praise by Mr Johnson. His mother, speaking from Aveiro near the northern Portuguese city of Porto, has now told of her son's experience.

New Zealand is about to head into their fourth week of strict level four restrictions which only allows people to leave their homes for essential services and exercise.

Around 2,000 high net worth individuals and their families could be granted a resident visa if they bring $50million dollars to invest in job creation.

Five deaths and 81 infections are linked to a cluster on Tasmania's north west coast, forcing two hospitals to be shut down and more than 5,000 people including 1,200 hospital staff quarantined.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, ministers in her government and public service chief executives will take a 20 per cent pay cut for the next six months.

A clever amateur chef has made her own version of McDonald's famous bacon and egg McMuffin in an air fryer.

The Australian Prime Minister who earns an annual salary of $549,250, is not planning to follow in the footsteps of New Zealand.

Ministers in New Zealand agreed to a 20 per cent cut on Wednesday but Prime Minister Scott Morrison said paycuts were 'not being considered' in Australia.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said unless there is an unexpected surge in coronavirus cases over the next few days, New Zealand will ease lockdown.

She's arguably one of the biggest villains to ever grace Australian reality television. 

After the coronavirus pandemic shut down global sport, New Zealand Rugby and the players' association agreed to put on hold £12mi, or 50 per cent of the year's remaining forecast spend.

Barring an upswing of new COVID-19 cases in the new few days, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will on Monday decide to lower New Zealand's lockdown from level four to level three.

Politicians in the UK and Australia have doubled down on their refusal to reduce their pay packets since Ms Ardern said she and her top staff would slash their salaries by 20 per cent.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said there is a 'serious possibility' that New Zealand could open borders to Australia sooner than the rest of the world If the rate of infection continues to drop.

Two applicants made multiple claims against New Zealand's Prime Minister at Auckland High Court on Thursday.

More than 350 unsuspecting community members were tested for COVID-19 in Christchurch when they went to do their grocery shopping on Friday.

The organisation has called the situation "its greatest challenge" with the cash available for unions needing immediate funding.

Police are looking for a woman (pictured) accused of spitting at a transport worker. Auckland Transport CEO Shane Ellison said the incident was "upsetting."

Comedian Laura Daniel has apologised to Jacinda Ardern after baking and decorating a cake depicting the New Zealand prime minister.

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: The campaign will go down to the wire as The Mail on Sunday can reveal that rival Agustin Pichot has secured the backing of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.

The caption of a photo shared in a New Zealand Facebook group declares knives, forks and spoons must be arranged from left to right, but not everyone agrees.

The $250,000 vessel was intercepted by New South Wales Police in waters off Lake Macquarie, north of Sydney, at 4.30am on Saturday.

Helicopter pilot Brian Depauw landed the aircraft with a group of German tourists on the volcanic island off the coast of New Zealand moments before the eruption 2.11pm on December 9 last year.

The 34-year-old Briton appeared in court in Sydney on charges relating to a huge haul of suspected methamphetamine found onboard the vessel.

EXCLUSIVE: Pichot wants the Lions to travel to new destinations - as well as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa as part of his vision to globalise the sport if he is elected World Rugby chairman.

The driver had been stopped by police in a suburban street in New Zealand last week. They claimed they were going to the supermarket but police didn't believe them.

New Zealand has seen its infection rate fall since going into strict lockdown nearly three weeks ago, with fewer than 20 new cases recorded each day over the past three days.

Those most at risk from coronavirus will be prioritised on three flights leaving Auckland and two from Christchurch, British High Commissioner to New Zealand Laura Clarke (pictured), said.

Nga Roimata Beattie-Rihari died about 7.45pm Sunday in Moerewa on New Zealand's North Island when a 43-year-old man allegedly  veered onto the wrong side of the road and hit her vehicle.

Jacinda Ardern has announced the removal of the toughest measures from New Zealand's coronavirus clampdown.

Stephen Singh-Heatley was last seen leaving an address on Water St, in Auckland, New Zealand at 1am on Monday.

Quick-thinking Silicon Valley billionaires booked flights for New Zealand as soon as the COVID-19 crisis began to escalate.

Australia's best new facial treatment has been revealed in a competitive beauty competition after thousands voted for their favourite products online.