Like edging a lawn, dead-heading is one of those tasks regarded by some as a complete form of social death. In both instances, they are wrong. This is a job for a quiet time, in the cool of the evening, involving no great effort or discomfort. It does, however, require careful observation and a methodical approach. With roses, remove the dead flower and sufficient shoot back to the next outward-facing bud. With many herbaceous perennials, reach further down with your secateurs, following the flowered shoot into the interior. Fresh greenery and, in some instances, another flush of flowers will follow.
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Can you buy happiness? The latest list of Britain's happiest places, and what you could end up with if you moved thereCan you buy happiness? Of course not, but you can buy a nicer house in a better town... and, well, that's probably going to help quite a bit.
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Is the British Museum's attempt to save a Tudor-era pendant with links to Henry VIII proof that the institution is on the up?After years of neglect and controversy, Britain's premier cultural institution seems to be finding its feet again.
